Blazevic greeted by hails and rain

Miroslav Blazevic is puffing heavily on a cigarette and trying to get out of Dublin airport as quickly as possible. The Iranian squad is late to arrive and their manager is not at his most talkative.

Of course that doesn't mean he has nothing to say. "Well we haven't landed here waving a white flag," he says with a sly grin.

With a wizard interpreter at his side, the man responsible for trying to get Iran to the World Cup steps out into the evening rain and reveals what he knows about Saturday's opposition. "Unfortunately I know everything about them."

Who then has impressed you the most? "All of this team have been impressive, and they haven't just been impressing me. All of the world has been impressed by them.

"It's a team that has made such a big 'drop' that the whole planet is talking about it. They have eliminated . . . one of the most popular teams in Europe, whose name is the Netherlands.

"And equally they finished up the job neck-and-neck with the best European team, which is Portugal. What else can I say about that team?"

So this is the man more popular in Iran than a four-course meal after Ramadan. Smartly dressed, and no doubt decorated with the diamond watch awarded to him after being voted by the 1998 World Cup coaches as the best among them.

Since he came to Iran as the former manager of Croatia, Blazevic can move around the country only in disguise. And the small but fervent group of supporters that have patiently awaited the team's arrival leave no doubt as to the awe in which he is held. Hooters follow his every sentence.

"Now it is very hard for me to confess, but Ireland is the big favourite for this match." (No hooter.) "However, we will show to the wonderful Irish people, a nation with whom my sentiments are independent (sic), we will show them that we know how to play football too." (Loud hooter.) "We don't want to cheat ourselves in advance."

With that he makes his way through the evening rain towards the team bus. Ray Treacy assures him that they will head straight for the training grounds in Bray, even if that probably means spending an hour or two in traffic.

The younger Iranian supporters have followed the players straight to the bus. The girls carry flowers and the boys cameras, and each of them focus on Ali Daei. The most popular footballer in Iran, and probably the best, was first out of the arrivals hall, dressed casually and smiling at the cameras.

Now he's a little wet after the walk to the bus, and the smile seems to have gone. One more photo with a girl in the number 10 shirt - A Daei - and he too disappears onto the bus, the weather reminding him that Iran aren't here for a holiday.

They head off into the traffic without confident expressions on their faces - not that the supporters seem to notice. "Of course we will beat the Irish," one of them remarks, "at least 3-2."