Dignified Ruutli still dreaming of an upset

LAST Thursday Tarmo Ruutli gave a press conference that was soundtracked by laughter.

Much of it was his own but it was all deep sighs and long pauses with the Estonian manager at the Radisson St Helen’s Hotel in Stillorgan yesterday.

Sure, he did his best to draw a veil over the wounds inflicted by the Republic of Ireland in Tallinn but, time and again, his words were betrayed by his body language. The few chuckles there were sounded hollow but there was ne’er a hint of self-pity.