World Cup retro: USA 1994, Big Jack's Giant moment with the Republic of Ireland on a day tainted by tragedy
JUST as he had done four years previously when the Republic of Ireland faced Italy in the 1990 World Cup finals, Jack Charlton elected to have a smoke while offering his post-match thoughts.
His mood as he spoke after Ireland's momentous victory over the Azzurri at the Giants Stadium in June 1994 was sardonic, just as it was in Rome's Olympic Stadium during that earlier competition meeting.
With a cigar in hand, he addressed BBC reporter Ray Stubbs for a couple of minutes to reflect on his side's epic single-goal victory, courtesy of Ray Houghton's early strike.
The ex-Sheffield Wednesday and Middlesbrough manager and Leeds United legend aimed his parting shot well across the water.
"Listen, I told you we'd keep surprising people. People will believe in us one of these days," he observed.
In the earlier meeting with the Italians, Big Jack had lit up in Rome following another 1-0 result, this time not in Ireland's favour.
The winner arrived when Packie Bonner meekly parried a shot from Roberto Donadoni straight into the path of Toto Schillaci, who fired the rebound into the open net to send the hosts through to the semi-finals.
As Bonner walked past him in the dressing room, Ireland's larger-than-life manager took a quick drag and dryly remarked to Bonner's team-mate Andy Townsend: "By the way, the f***ing Pope would have saved that.."
Famously, the Pope at that time - John Paul II - was a former semi-professional goalkeeper. He'd held an audience with Ireland's players in the Sistine Chapel ahead of the game and had specifically sought out Bonner.
Bonner - or the late Pope for that matter - would have had little chance with Houghton's 11th-minute goal which stunned Arrigo Sacchi's Italy in New Jersey.
The stadium, a former home of New York's two NFL franchises - the Giants and Jets - alongside soccer teams New York Cosmos and New York Red Bulls - closed in 2009 following the construction of the 79,000-capacity MetLife Stadium in the surrounding parking lot.
The £1.7billion facility will stage games involving Brazil, France and England in the group stages of this summer's World Cup, which starts on Thursday, alongside the final on July 19.
Across the way in 94, the Giants Stadium was also the stage for a famous 2-1 triumph where Yordan Letchkov-inspired Bulgaria eliminated holders Germany in the quarter-finals. Letchkov, Hristo Stoichkov and co couldn't get the better of Italy at the same venue in the semis.
The Azzurri were feeling a bit better about things by then as June 18, 1994 belonged to Big Jack's Ireland.
In a competition without any of the home nations, Ireland provided the main interest.
Charlton's side marked themselves out as serious contenders with friendly victories ahead of the tournament in the Netherlands and Germany.
Despite a narrow single-goal scoreline, their win over the Italians was comfortable.
A 4-5-1 formation, which stymied 'The Divine Ponytail' himself in Roberto Baggio, was classic Charlton and his 'sweat-soaked soldiers' - to quote Observer reporter Patrick Barclay - did him proud.
Italy's only real chance was a pretty meek one, with Bonner denying Guiseppe Signori. Gianluca Pagliuca was busier at the other end, playing behind a 'Dream Team' all-Milan defence that read like a 'Who's Who' of football greats. Tassotti, Costacurta, Baresi, Maldini.
Houghton trumped his winner against England in Stuttgart in Euro 1988 with a lofted left-footed shot that caught Pagliuca out.
Ireland were magnificent in implementing their game plan after that. Paul McGrath's performance was world-class and a second-half strike from ex-Leeds and Owls favourite John Sheridan, which shuddered the woodwork, almost yielded a deserved second goal.
Ireland's victory - the first time they had avoided defeat in seven meetings with Italy - was equally meritorious. It also marked the first occasion in 13 World Cups that Italy had lost their opening match.
For the Irish, it represented their peak in '94. Their second game, played in oppressive Florida heat against Mexico, became infamous for Charlton and John Aldridge blowing a gasket with FIFA officials. Ireland reached the last 16 before exiting to a strong Dutch side.
The on-pitch highlight was at Giants Stadium, although it was a day also sadly tainted by tragedy.
During the game, members of the Ulster Volunteer Force burst into a Northern Irish pub frequented by Catholics who were watching the match and opened fire, killing six people. It became known as the Loughinisland massacre.