Sports Letters:English blushes

Sir: I'm sorry that Glenn Moore does not consider the Republic of Ireland as suitable for England because of their "direct style" (evidence that over the last few years your Mr Moore has been watching more cricket than football), but maybe he will be comforted by the fact that in recent months the Republic have beaten the Netherlands, Germany and Italy, and all away from Lansdowne Road.

Personally, I think that England are far from suitable opposition for the Republic.

I wonder could it be that the English FA is still not fully over the embarrassment of the last time England played the Republic in the European Championship finals and are doing everything to ensure it doesn't happen again?

Yours faithfully P Cunningham London