NFL

FOR COUGHLIN, IT’S ROYAL PAIN

LONDON – Tom Coughlin would prefer to be the dictator, having things run his way, on his schedule, on his terms. That’s how the Giants coach likes to function despite all the talk of him growing soft and what not.

But the dictator is forced to be a diplomat this week when the Giants and Dolphins meet Sunday in the first NFL regular-season game to be played outside North America.

Owners Steve Tisch and John Mara wanted the Giants to play in this game at Wembley Stadium because of its importance to the NFL and the historic significance of being the first. Now stoic Coughlin is forced to put on a happy face and treat this as something other than an unwelcome intrusion on his football season.

Coughlin played the part yesterday, saying all the right things to the European and American media after the Giants went through a light workout at the practice facility where the storied Chelsea soccer team trains. He even smiled or at least tried to smile. But you could tell he would rather have been in New Jersey, following a more normal routine.

“The Maras and Tischs made the decision that we would play this game. So we’ll go with that,” Coughlin said. “It does cause you to adjust your schedule and of course everybody wants to be in one of those everything’s exactly the same kind of a mode. But we’ve done a good job of getting ready to play and playing well over the last five weeks. I’m certainly confident that will happen Sunday.”

The game is part of the NFL’s International Series, which is being headed by commissioner Roger Goodell, and the Giants’ red, white and blue colors fit the agenda. If all goes well, there will be other games in other countries. In fact, tomorrow’s game will be viewed in 216 countries, creating the potential for more NFL jerseys to be purchased around the globe.

“Hopefully, it’s more than just a public relations event,” Tisch said. “The school systems are going to be looking at this game to see if American football is something that could take hold in this country. It’s great for international relations. Certainly, London and New York are two of the most dynamic cities in the world. It kind of makes sense on every level.”

The NFL wants Europe to embrace American football. But at this stage, Europeans like American football about as much as Americans liked soccer in the 1970s and ’80s. Though the game is a sellout, there was hardly a mention in yesterday’s major newspapers here.

Despite the global implications, the only way this works for Coughlin is if he gets a win. Everything is going well with his team right now. They’ve won five straight games. They’re dominating on defense against weak offenses. His running game is getting healthy, and Eli Manning is close to having one of those breakout games.

“Normally, it’s total tunnel vision,” Coughlin said. “I’ve expanded that a little bit for this particular case. But still we’re here for one reason and one reason only and that’s to play a very important football game. Our players are fully aware of what’s at stake.”

First, his team must adjust its body clock. After an overnight flight from the States, the Giants arrived about 5:15 a.m. local time, rested for a couple of hours before busing to their practice field. Last night, the objective was to keep the players awake as long as possible so they could adjust to the time change by today.

Who knows what their legs will be like tomorrow. Coughlin is hoping for best, fearing the worst.

george.willis@nypost.com