Reuters Sports Schedule at 1400 GMT on Saturday
Reuters sports schedule at 1400 GMT on Saturday:
SOCCER
World Cup qualifying
European playoff
Denmark v Ireland
Danes look to build lead against Ireland
COPENHAGEN - Denmark look to establish a lead at the Parken Stadium against Ireland in the first leg of their World Cup playoff for a place at next year's World Cup finals in Russia. (SOCCER-WORLDCUP-DNK-IRL/, 400 words)
Intercontinental playoff
New Zealand v Peru, Wellington (0315)
All Whites hold fancied Peruvians
WELLINGTON - New Zealand weathered a lack of possession and territory to hold Peru to a 0-0 draw in the first leg of the playoff at Wellington Regional Stadium. (SOCCER-WORLDCUP-NZL-PER/ (PIX), moved, by Greg Stutchbury, 400 words)
Africa (1730 unless stated)
Group A
DR Congo v Guinea
Tunisia v Libya
Tunisia look for point to guarantee World Cup spot
TUNIS - Tunisia need at least a point at home to bottom side Libya to ensure they finish top of Africa's Group A and qualify for next year's World Cup finals in Russia. (SOCCER-WORLDCUP-TUN-LBY/(PIX), expect by 1930 GMT/2.30 PM ET, 400 words)
Group B
Zambia v Cameroon (1300)
Group C
Gabon v Mali (1430)
Ivory Coast v Morocco
Ivory Coast face Morocco in decisive World Cup qualifier
ABIDJAN - Ivory Coast host Morocco in their decisive World Cup qualifier needing a win, while a draw would be enough for Morocco to reach their first World Cup since 1998. (SOCCER-WORLDCUP-CIV-MAR/(TV), expect by 1930 GMT/2.30 PM ET, 400 words)
International friendly
Russia v Argentina
World Cup hosts Russia face Messi's Argentina
MOSCOW - 2018 World Cup hosts Russia play Lionel Messi's Argentina in a friendly at Moscow's newly-renovated Luzhniki stadium. (SOCCER-FRIENDLY-RUS-ARG/ (PIX, TV), by Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber, 400 words)
Spain v Costa Rica
Spain take on Costa Rica in friendly
MALAGA - Spain play Costa Rica in a friendly at La Rosaleda stadium a month after both sides secured their places at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. (SOCCER-WORLDCUP-ESP-CRI/ (PIX), by Richard Martin, 400 words)
MOTOR RACING
Formula One, Brazilian Grand Prix
Hamilton has 12th pole of the season in his sights
SAO PAULO - Lewis Hamilton has a 12th pole position of the season, and 73rd of his career, in his sights as the Mercedes driver continues to push full speed ahead despite winning his fourth title two weeks ago. (MOTOR-F1-BRAZIL/, expect by 1700 GMT/1 PM ET, 500 words)
We will also have stories from around the paddock.
MOTORCYCLING
Valencia MotoGP
Marquez battles for pole as fourth MotoGP title beckons
VALENCIA, Spain - Honda's Marc Marquez battles for pole ahead of a race likely to crown the Spaniard MotoGP champion for the fourth time in five years. (MOTOR-MOTOGP-VALENCIA/, expect by 1400 GMT/10 A.M. ET, 300 words)
GOLF
PGA Tour: OHL Classic at Mayakoba, Mexico
Rodgers leads after suspended second round, Fowler one back
Patrick Rodgers holds a one-shot lead over fellow Americans Patton Kizzire and Rickie Fowler as the field completes second round play and begins third round action on the El Camaleon course at the resort of Playa del Carmen. (GOLF-MAYAKOBA/ (TV), expect by 0100 GMT/8 PM ET, 350 words)
European Tour: Nedbank Golf Challenge
Frenchman Dubuisson holds two-shot lead in Sun City
SUN CITY, South Africa - Frenchman Victor Dubuisson starts the third round with a two-shot lead over the rest of the field in the penultimate event of the European Tour season. (GOLF-EUROPEAN/, expect by 0700 GMT/2 PM ET, by Nick Said, 400 words)
TENNIS
Fed Cup final
Belarus v United States
U.S. look to extend record 17 titles
MINSK - Belarus, contesting their maiden Fed Cup final, host the United States at Chizhovka Arena on an indoor hard court. The visiting U.S. team lack the services of the Williams sisters but will bid for a record-extending 18th title and their first since 2000. (TENNIS-FEDCUP-FINAL/ (PIX, TV), 300 words)
ATP Next Gen Finals
Rublev faces Chung in Next Gen final
MILAN - Top-seeded Russian Andrey Rublev faces undefeated Chung Hyeon in the Next Gen final, as he bids to reverse his crushing round-robin loss to the South Korean. (TENNIS-NEXTGEN/, expect throughout, by Martyn Herman, 400 words)
RUGBY
France v New Zealand
Bastareaud returns as France play All Blacks in Paris
PARIS - Mathieu Bastareaud makes his France comeback against New Zealand more than two years since his last appearance and could not have picked tougher opponents as the smarting All Blacks look to bounce back from a rare defeat in losing to Australia last month. (RUGBY-UNION-FRA-NZL/, 400 words)
Wales v Australia
Wales bid to end 12-match losing streak v Australia
CARDIFF - Wales start their autumn international series with coach Warren Gatland back at the helm after the Lions tour and will hope to end a 12-match losing streak against the Wallabies dating back to 2008. (RUGBY-UNION-WAL-AUS/ (PIX), 400 words)
Ireland v South Africa
Irish provide test for Springboks
DUBLIN - New Zealand-born centre Bundee Aki will make his debut for Ireland against a South Africa team featuring returning props Tendai Mtawarira and Coenie Oosthuizen in the first test of the Springboks' four-match European tour. (RUGBY-UNION-IRL-ZAF/ (PIX), 400 words)
England v Argentina
England kick off autumn series against Argentina
LONDON - England are without the rested Owen Farrell and Maro Itoje but Henry Slade and Sam Underhill start as they take on Argentina in the first of their three autumn internationals. (RUGBY-UNION-ENG-ARG/ (PIX), by Mitch Phillips, 400 words)
Scotland v Samoa
Scotland aim to stay positive against Samoa
EDINBURGH - Scotland look to build on a positive set of results in June, including an away win over Australia, as they play Samoa in the first of three autumn home internationals. (RUGBY-UNION-SCO-WSM/ (PIX), 400 words)
OLYMPICS
U.S. athletes to muzzle climate change message at Winter Games
A group of U.S. Olympians concerned about the threat of climate change will not voice that message when they compete in South Korea in February due to IOC rules barring political campaigns, an official with advocacy group Protect Our Winters says. (OLYMPICS-2018/CLIMATE (PIX), expect by 1900 GMT/2 PM ET, by Rory Carroll, 300 words)
NBA
Rockets fired up as Grizzlies visit
James Harden and the Houston Rockets put a four-game winning streak on the line when the Memphis Grizzlies visit and LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers travel to the Dallas Mavericks in two of the 11 games on the National Basketball Association’s schedule. (BASKETBALL-NBA/HIGHLIGHTS, expect by 0530 GMT/12:30 AM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 800 words)
NHL
Avalanche meet Senators in Sweden, Devils out to end skid
The Colorado Avalanche take on the Ottawa Senators in the NHL Global Series in Stockholm and the Metropolitan Division-leading New Jersey try to break a four-game losing streak when they are home to the Florida Panthers in two of the 12 games on the National Hockey League schedule. (ICEHOCKEY-NHL/HIGHLIGHTS, expect by 0530 GMT/12:30 AM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 800 words) (Europe desk editor: Ed Osmond)
