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Sunday 10 December 2023 Dublin: 7°C

# Letter from Brazil

All time
Football brings hope, but not much more in favelas of Rio
Mikey Stafford tours a north Rio favela with a Corkman trying to make a difference.
Letter from Brazil: National nightmare tough to swallow for a country not interested in excuses
Mikey Stafford watched Brazil’s nightmare in a north Rio favela where the reaction was “muted to the point of non-existent.”
Kerrymen at the Copacabana -- Ireland are surely the best-supported nation not at this World Cup
With not a single green-clad team left in Brazil, Mikey Stafford gives you the pros and cons of rowing in behind each of the final four.
'F**k FIFA' - Brazilians protest at World Cup costs as Silva awaits redemption
Mikey Stafford reports from Rio, where the real fans cannot afford to attend matches in the flesh.
Letter from Brazil: A little romance goes a long way as Clare and the Netherlands survive
Neymar and James Rodriguez’s departures from the World Cup left us needing to be cheered up.
'Anyone who tells you the party died with Neymar's injury was in the wrong part of town'
Brazil has been shaken by the loss of its biggest star – but Mikey Stafford found that there was no stopping the party in Rio.
Life inside the Maracanã media centre, questions through a translator and rejoining the pack
Our man at the World Cup Mikey Stafford has arrived in Rio ahead of the first quarter-final tie this evening.
'In the early stages of the World Cup it was okay to wear an Argentina jersey in the street...'
Our man in Brazil is braced for a not-so-smooth landing.
World Cup party moves on from Recife leaving calm after the storm
Mikey Stafford checks in from the northern Brazilian city, where the action is now finished.
Goalkeepers showing their worth in tournament of struggling stars
The last lines of defence are making their case to be the MVP.
The beautiful game: Brazilian progress spreads joy across the nation
‘Football’s biggest party needs its hosts almost as much as Brazil needs the World Cup,’ writes Mikey Stafford.
He drives me crazy but Suárez is no fine young cannibal
What the Uruguayan did was wrong but it wasn’t pre-meditated or life-threatening writes Mikey Stafford.
'This is Brazil' shrug locals as football fans endure epic journey through floods
Frogs, rafts made of mattresses and the kindness of strangers; this is the World Cup as much as goals and games, writes Mikey Stafford.
Klinsmann living the American Dream as he prepares to face homeland
Mikey Stafford reports from Recife as the USMNT boss talks football in German with a US accent.
Bags packed with ice cubes and beer cans as Colombia's convenient invasion keeps going strong
Mikey Stafford was in a fan fest in Recife, pondering the ramifications of an All-Ireland final on Good Friday.
'Fast forward 350 years and the Europeans are back in Brazil hunting for fame and fortune'
Louis van Gaal’s Dutch side are laying the foundations for a new Oranje Empire but our man Mikey Stafford has acquired a soft spot for the all-action Mexicans.
Brazil seeking spirit of 'Little Bird' Garrincha to seal Last 16 spot
Not even a 13-hour bus journey can dampen Mikey Stafford’s lust for historical reveries.
'Sitting on the promenade I allowed myself to think, "this could be us" - except it's not'
As Ireland’s conquerors Germany prepare for their second Group G game, Mikey Stafford pens a requiem for a Midwinter Night’s Dream.
Brilliance of Suarez brings only bitter memories for Ghana ahead of Germany clash
The Black Stars are again carrying African hopes in this World Cup, and tomorrow they must shine.
Discontent in Brazil media eased by the 'safe haven' of Seleção defence
Following a disappointing stalemate with Mexico, the host nation are taking solace that only Marcelo has been able to put the ball past Julio Cesar so far.
'In the company of one waiter and three excitable customers, we watched the demise of tiki-taka'
Thousands of journalists are in Brazil to watch the World Cup – but it can be a harder task than you’d think, writes Mikey Stafford.
Zombie-like Brazil emerge with hope intact after near-shock in Fortaleza
Mikey Stafford reports on the aftermath of yesterday’s 0-0 Group A draw with Mexico.
'You're Irish?' asked the smiling apparatchik with the golden tickets. 'What's the craic?'
Mikey Stafford checks in from Fortaleza where getting into Brazil’s press conference was almost as hard as getting a ticket.
Letter from Brazil: Football-daft Mexicans ready to serve their hosts some 'spicy chilli'
Tomorrow’s clash will be one of the loudest and most colourful spectacles of World Cup 2014, writes our man in Brazil.
Letter from Brazil: Netherlands' big orange bus rumbles on as Spain fall hard
Our man in Brazil reports on the fall out from the stunning clash in Salvador last night.
Letter from Brazil: I'll buy FIFA-branded water but not locals' World Cup conspiracy theories
The tournament isn’t going to paper over the cracks, writes our man in Brazil, Mikey Stafford.
Brazil makes a mad dash for final preparations - but the people are ready to start the party
From Salvador, Mikey Stafford writes that World Cup fever is starting to take hold ahead of tomorrow’s big kick-off.
'Francois's eyes glitter like his merchandise as he gives his prediction: Switzerland and Brazil'
Swtizerland’s squad — comprised largely of the children of immigrants and refugees — stands poised to give its reputation a great boost, writes our man in Brazil.