ANALYSIS:ON MY formal introduction to this newspaper, Italia '90 to be precise, I believed I witnessed in that competition performances from an Irish team that had surpassed anything beforehand. However, counting myself privileged to be one of the 74,000-plus crowd in the Giants Stadium on Saturday, I believe I have seen the best ever all-round performance from an Irish team, taking into account the opposition, the climate, and the general sense of occasion attached to Ireland's opening World Cup match.

Our opponents, the Italians, containing no fewer than six of the all-conquering European Cup-winning AC Milan side, were made to look decidedly less than superhuman throughout the 90 minutes. Our famous victory was a result of many different features; the most prominent of which was the ability of the starting Irish XI to produce 11 outstanding individual performances in the context of a monumental team effort.

Our ability as a team to produce performances as seen in the Meadowlands last Saturday is due in no uncertain part to the philosophies and tactics expounded by Jack Charlton, coupled with the players’ total and utter belief in their own individual abilities to play within this team framework. This cannot be understated, for many other countries must envy Ireland’s confidence in adhering to such a well-ingrained system of play. I fancy the Italians would be more envious than most.

Jack’s philosophies have always worked during his eight years in charge. What makes his tactics even more effective now is that we have never been so spoilt for choice in terms of personnel. Players currently in possession of one of those cherished jerseys step out on to the field of play knowing anything less than the best could well nigh cost them their place in the side because the alternatives are queuing up. And in all our years of playing the game up until now, we have never had such abundant reserves of strength before.

So many words have been written and said about this memorable performance already, and no doubt several individuals such as Paul McGrath and Roy Keane have been singled out. But, for me, to praise individuals would be to detract from such a total team effort. The sheer professionalism with which each and every member of the team went about their work was a joy to behold and left me full of pride just to have witnessed it.

The best possible outcome of Saturday’s victory is that rather than be dependent on others for favours, we can now be masters of our own destiny in determining the likelihood of our second stage venue. We must not, and I believe will not, be complacent. We have as a team too much of a sensible attitude towards the game to falter after such an impressive start.

The shockwaves of Ireland’s victory over the Italians in New Jersey on Saturday, believe you me, will have been felt throughout the whole of this vast country of America, as the three major powers of European football, Italy, Germany and Holland, will currently testify.

It was clear from the fitness level shown by our players in the Giants Stadium at the weekend that our acclimatisation period in Orlando is already proving a masterstroke. You get the feeling now that America, and specifically Orlando, has become like a home from home for this squad. They are well established in their Orlando base; the training camp is both nearby and possesses excellent facilities; the hotel is comfortable and there is a good feel about the place; and there are enough distractions within striking distance of our headquarters to take the players’ minds away from football, albeit momentarily.

We now have virtually five full days to recover from Saturday’s exertions. It gives the squad ample time to prepare for the Mexican game while also providing them with a nice, long rest period. One must remember that highly-trained athletes in the peak of physical condition need as much relaxation as they need conditioning.

I believe that in competitions of this magnitude the team’s second game, more often than not, could turn out to be the most important. The first game, because of the lengthy preparations and hype, is more akin to a Cup-tie, whereas the wind-up to the second game is not nearly so protracted, and makes it more like a league game.Tables are in place and the groups are starting to take shape. The first game sets you up, one way or another, but it is the second game which pretty much determines exactly what is required from the concluding group game.

I firmly believe that the players will regard Friday’s collision course with the Mexicans in the Citrus Bowl as virtually a home game, given the fact that Orlando is our base and we are sure to have a vast army of fervent Irish support. The performance of the massive Irish support in the Meadowlands was a significant contributing factor to the result. In fact, I was quite staggered and taken aback by it. The rendition of Amhrán na bhFiann so moved my BBC colleague Mike Ingham that he was close to tears.

There has been, and of course after Saturday’s defeat of the Italians, there always will be, much talk of Ireland’s currently limitless possibilities in this World Cup. I believe none of us, the players and Jack included, really know how far the Republic of Ireland can actually advance in this competition.

However, deep down, Jack and the players know that it will take an outstanding side to arrest the path of this Irish juggernaut.

(In an interview with Gerry Thornley)