Sir, – In his piece on the Netherlands vs Spain match, Emmet Malone doubts the ability of the Spanish players to repeat their feat of four years ago in qualifying from their group having lost their opening match ("Dutch masters leave Spain reeling", June 13th). Among the reasons he advances is the curse of the ageing process – he points out that "just about every one of them was four years younger then". Unfortunately he does not identify the interesting exceptions. – Yours, etc,
PAT O’BRIEN,
Temple Villas,
Rathmines, Dublin 6.
Sir, – Well, I survived it last time, but I am now four years older, four years crankier, and four years more intolerant to noise! While not wanting to wish away the summer, I must admit I look forward to July 13th and silence and peace! – Yours, etc,
MARGARET BUTLER,
St Helen’s Road,
Booterstown,
Co Dublin.