Marc Overmars breaks first from the main arrivals terminal. The winger drifts, ducks and goes for the space towards the sliding doors. He is no match for the lads from Joey's Fairview and ┴rd Scoil R∅s who are on him like jackals. Overmars obliges with his scrawl and a smile.
The rest of the Dutch squad, seeing their front runner make the bus unscathed, decide on their move. Ben Ryan from Clondalkin clutches his copy of Jaap Stam's Head to Head. Hoping to meet the author face to face and confront him with the book, it could well be the most traumatic moment for the Dutch defender of the entire weekend.
"I haven't read the whole book yet. Just the good bits. Look, here's what he says about the Nevilles," says Ben pointing to a tasty tract. "... never stop whingeing ... busy c**ts. That's page ... whoa, here they come."
Stam, bald and bearded smiles benignly and signs the book crushing any vampire and crucifix images. He doesn't flinch, turn to dust or get sucked into his own abominable black vortex.
He simply plays in Italy now. A tall menacing figure, Stam is in fan form. More smiles, the pen's strokes lighting up adolescent eyes with every long step.
The Dutch artistes tanned and lightly strung smile the smile of professional athletes, unworried masters of their universe, men of the moment, technicians of the game of football over to meet the try-hards, the kick-longs, the busy Irish resistence.
Noticeably relaxed, evidently confident, an engaging arrogance humming like a forcefield accompanies the Dublin landing.
Ruud van Nistelrooy, dark and oddly vulnerable in appearance poses with the Man United fans. Two other Liverpool supporters strain to see their goalkeeper Sander Westerveldt, one with a shirt tucked under his arm.
"Don't throw him the shirt," suggests a voice recalling the embarassing blunder of the weekend.
Jerrel "Jimmy-Floyd" Hasselbaink, looking very much like a crushed version of 400 metre Olympic Champion Michael Johnson squats and embraces Pierre van Hooijdonk for the owner of a disposible camera. More smiles. Endless smiling.
Coach Louis van Gaal sweeps across the foyer.
"Happy to be here Louis?"
"I hope so," he replies.
"Feeling pressure?"
"At this point no. We've had good preparation, a good flight and I think tomorrow it will begin. So I am satisfied and I have confidence in the next game," he says.
"For me and also for the players, playing in Dublin is exciting because I enjoy playing in front of a big crowd. The players are used to it. I am used to it."
Louis ain't about to give anything away when door stepped at Dublin airport. What about Stam? What about the young lad Holland intend to play in central defence beside the Manchester Uni...er, Lazio player. Is he not just a baby?
PSV Eindhoven player Kevin Keegan Hofland, with three caps and international experience that barely stretches back to March of this year partners the oak matured Stam.
"Richard Dunne has also started just one year," says van Gaal. "I think he's (Hofland) a talented player and can do the job. It is a very important game and he will have the pressures. For a young player that is important."
The bus takes off with a few hundred million pounds worth of ball kicking ability and the airport gasps.
The fans watch it until it descends the ramp and out of sight into the Dublin traffic.
Bray and the Carlisle Grounds await the princes of passing for their first training session in Ireland. Perhaps a little culture shock there. And it's only just beginning.
