Sir, – Five million Scots will note that in the World Cup, Italy (population 61 million) and England (population 53 million) have been seen off by Uruguay (population 3.3 million) and Costa Rica (population 4.5 million). – Yours, etc,
Dr JOHN DOHERTY,
Cnoc an Stollaire,
Gaoth Dobhair,
Co Donegal.
Sir, – Your excellent coverage and analysis of the World Cup has been most comprehensive, but it has been unable to suggest which team God supports. The South American teams are blessing themselves before running on to the pitch, and African teams are clasping their hands in a “prayer-like fashion” and looking towards the heavens after each near-miss. The Brazilians seem to point a single finger skyward after each goal, indicating some sort of divine pact. The Italian players are kissing crosses and medallions, on the sidelines, suggesting that they may be the chosen ones. It seems divine intervention was unavailable for the “atheistic” Switzerland, and it appears that God has not saved the queen, although he may be guiding Costa Rica towards the final. – Yours, etc,
NEIL BURKE KENNEDY,
Rock Road,
Booterstown,
Blackrock,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – Is there any chance, out of the goodness of their hearts, that the organisers of the World Cup could give us a couple of those orange stretcher yokes that they use to transport injured players off the field? Not only do the players seem to recover remarkably quickly as soon as they are put on one, but some, as soon as the stretcher is presented, seem to recover instantaneously on the pitch. They appear to be a remarkable medical advance and might be used to some considerable effect outside our overstretched A&E departments. – Yours, etc,
LIAM McMULLIN,
Donamon,
Roscommon.
Sir, – Thomas Conway (June 21st) rightly commends Fifa for the use of foam to assist in the marshalling of free-kicks. I presume the diversion of the foam to this new purpose is the reason that so many players seem not to have had a decent shave. – Yours, etc,
KEVIN O’SULLIVAN
Ballyraine Park
Letterkenny
Co Donegal.
Sir, – As a first step to restoring the reputation of Fifa, perhaps someone could spray Sepp Blatter with the vanishing foam. – Yours, etc, PADRAIG DOYLE,
Pine Valley Avenue,
Dublin 16.