Reuters Sports Schedule at 1400 GMT on Friday, October 11
Reuters sports schedule at 1400 GMT on Friday: - - - - SOCCER 2014 World Cup qualifiers Croatia v Belgium (1600) Wales v Macedonia (1845) Armenia v Bulgaria (1500) Malta v Czech Republic (1730) Denmark v Italy (1815) Faroe Islands v Kazakhstan (1700) Germany v Ireland (1845) Sweden v Austria (1845) Andorra v Romania (1830) Estonia v Turkey (1830) Netherlands v Hungary (1830) Albania v Switzerland (1830) Iceland v Cyprus (1845) Slovenia v Norway (1845) Azerbaijan v Northern Ireland (1600) Luxembourg v Russia (1830) Portugal v Israel (1945) Lithuania v Latvia (1530) Bosnia v Liechtenstein (1800) Greece v Slovakia (1845) Moldova v San Marino (1600) Ukraine v Poland (1800) England v Montenegro (1900) Spain v Belarus (2000) European qualification comes down to the wire LONDON - Seven automatic World Cup places for group winners and eight playoff spots are still up for grabs as European qualification resumes on Friday with Italy and Netherlands already through to the 2014 finals in Brazil. (SOCCER-WORLD/ (PIX), expect by 2100 GMT/5 PM ET, by Justin Palmer, 800 words) - - Spain can close on World Cup qualification with Belarus win MADRID - Holders Spain can move to the brink of qualifying for next year's World Cup finals in Brazil with a win at home to last-placed Group I rivals Belarus that would put them three points clear of France with one match to play. (SOCCER-WORLD/SPAIN, expect by 2200 GMT/6 PM ET, pix, TV, 500 words) - - CONCACAF Honduras v Costa Rica (2100) U.S. v Jamaica (2236) Mexico v Panama (0130) Honduras eye World Cup berth in clash with Costa Rica Honduras play Costa Rica, knowing a win could take them through to the World Cup, while Mexico host Panama in a match both teams need to win to remain in contention. In the other qualifier, the already-qualified United States face Jamaica. (SOCCER-WORLD/CONCACAF, expect first copy by 2330 GMT/7.30 PM ET, 500 words) - - - - MOTOR RACING Japanese Grand Prix Vettel fastest in free practice SUZUKA, Japan - World championship leader Sebastian Vettel was fastest in practice on a day overshadowed by the death of former Formula One test driver Maria de Villota in Spain. (MOTOR RACING-PRIX/ (PIX), moved, by Alan Baldwin, 500 words) - - - - TENNIS ATP: Shanghai Masters, China (to 13) WTA: Japan Open, Osaka (to 13) Linz Open, Austria (to 13) Copy on merit - - - - GOLF PGA Tour: Frys.com Open (to 13) Overton takes control in pursuit of maiden PGA Tour title American journeyman Jeff Overton, seeking his first victory on the PGA Tour, will take a one-stroke lead into Friday's second round at CordeValle Golf Club in San Martin, California after opening with a flawless seven-under-par 64 in the season-opening event. (GOLF-PGA/, expect end-of-day lead by 0200 GMT/10 PM ET, 400 words) - - - - BASEBALL Dodgers and Cardinals clash in series opener The Los Angeles Dodgers visit the top-seeded St. Louis Cardinals in the opening game of the best-of-seven National League Championship Series to determine which team advances to the World Series. (BASEBALL-PLAYOFFS/NL (PIX), expect by 0350 GMT/11:50 PM ET, 400 words) - - - - NHL Streaking Penguins set to battle Panthers Sidney Crosby and the undefeated Pittsburgh Penguins look to extend their hot start to the season when they visit the Florida Panthers as part of Friday's regular season National Hockey League action. (NHL-HIGHLIGHTS/ (PIX), expect by 0330 GMT/11:30 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 300 words) - - - - NORTH AMERICAN SPORTS Roundups of off-field developments in the major North American professional sports leagues. (expect by 0001 GMT/8:01 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 400 words) (Duty editor: Ed Osmond)
