Managers' reaction: Outside, the night air may belong to Moscow but in the cosy little bandbox at Lansdowne Road, the laughter is warm.

"Who is favourite in Ireland's World Cup group," comes the innocent inquiry from a visiting German reporter.

"Saudia Arabia," deadpans Mick McCarthy, face poker straight.

As the packed room explodes in laughter, McCarthy relents.

"Ah no. Germany. Definitely. No question about it. How many times have you won the World Cup? Three times? Well, we have qualified three times. That tells you everything. Germany. Then Cameroon, then Saudi Arabia and finally us - because we like to be underdog even when we are not."

"Well," ventures the intrepid German, "I have just learned something about Irish humour."

Applauding, McCarthy shoots back: "Well done and I have just learned that the Germans have a sense of humour."

Welcome to the happiest soccer camp in the world. McCarthy appears, designer-suit sharp, with the latest heroes of the Irish sport's on-going feelgood story. Goal scorer Steven Reid and man of the match Colin Healy are modest and a bit dazed by the brigh tlights. This train is moving fast.

"Twelve substitutes must be a record, but then a 45-minute man of the match must also be a record," grins McCarthy.

He promised to use his full squad and didn't disappoint, even if Richard Sadlier's appearance was a little later than anticipated. 2-0, a couple of crashes against the post, and another clean sheet. Life is sweet.

"Yeah, I'm delighted," acknowledged the Irish manager.

"And the younger players have given me something to think about, definitely. What I do know is that the European championships are definitely there. Playing in a European qualifer in Moscow and playing in the World Cup finals in Japan are too very different things. I will continue to watch all the young players but they have got to keep playing first- team football."

The immediate future of Healy is of obvious interest in that regard. When the Celtic player is asked about what happens when his loan period at Coventry expires, McCarthy interrupts the curveball with all the old gusto of his playing days.

"It's a difficult one for him to answer," he points out. "He's in a situation where he has been sent out on loan and I'm sure Martin (O'Neill) has been watching him at Coventry. Colin will be busting a gut to play to play football, but if he goes back to Celtic and the manager says there is nothing he can do, so be it.

" He should just enjoy these moments and see what happens. No point in saying anything that is going to upset people. You don't mind me anwering that for you, do you Colin."

The voice of an old pro. This must have been one of McCarthy's most laid-back press performances in all his days with Ireland, possibly because this is the most stress-free period.

Is this is best squad?

"Of course. Because the players who were there in 1996 have all evolved and matured - and I include myself in that. We are a close-knit squad."

That much is apparent just by watching the manager coaxing the new kids through their first press chat. The guiding hand, constant.

"It's been a nice . . . not experiment but . . .it was good. I wouldn't describe this as an easy win - we had a spell and took our chances but Russia had a spell too."

Perhaps the icy Dublin evening and the fire in the Irish eyes will leave the Russians thinking hard about the forthcoming European campaign. The visiting press talk was jeopardised by moments of farce when the delegation threatened to walk out for want of a translator. Finally, one was summoned from the depths of Lansdowne Road.

"Unfortunately Russia started to play some football a little to late," offered the assistant manager, enigmatically entitled Mr Gershkouch.

"But I do think we played quite well given that it was the first time we met after a long interval. I can only wish Ireland further progess and good success in Japan and Korea.

How far can we go? we urge, peering at him as though he is a crystal ball.

"Hard to say," he says mysteriously.

Well, who impressed for Ireland. Mr G pauses for a long time and ponders deeply but there is an inevitability about his answer.

"Well, Ireland were a very balanced side but . . of course, Roy Keane has to be a stand out."

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