Reuters Sports Schedule at 1400 GMT on Thursday, Oct 6
Reuters sports schedule at 1400 GMT on Thursday (times GMT): SOCCER 2018 World Cup qualifiers We continue our build-up to this week's World Cup qualifiers with player and manager news conferences plus all the latest team news. (SOCCER-WORLDCUP/) Asia South Koreans eye improvement after Syria stalemate South Korea, held to a surprise 0-0 draw with Syria in their last Group A game, bid to get their qualifying campaign back on track with a home tie against Qatar in Suwon. (SOCCER-WORLDCUP-KOR-QAT/ (PIX) expect by 1500 GMT/11 AM ET, 350 words) Japan manager Vahid Halilhodzic hopes his players will channel the pressure of expectation in a positive way when they host Iraq in a crunch World Cup qualifier. (SOCCER-WORLDCUP-JPN-IRQ/ expect by 1500 GMT/11 AM ET, 350 words) South America Brazil aim for third consecutive win in South American group SAO PAULO - Brazil coach Tite looks to build on a good start in his first two games in charge with a third consecutive win against a Bolivia side that hasn't won a qualifier away from home since 1993. (SOCCER-WORLDCUP-BRA-BOL/ (PIX), expect by 0500 GMT / 1:00 AM ET, by Andrew Downie, 300 words) Argentina have to make do without injured Messi away to Peru LIMA - Juventus forward Paulo Dybala looks set to take on the injured Lionel Messi's role in an Argentina side that also includes Sergio Aguero, Gonzalo Higuain and Angel Di Maria away to Peru at the halfway point in the South American qualifiers for Russia 2018. (SOCCER-WORLDCUP-PER-ARG/, (PIX), expect by 0630 GMT / 2:30 AM ET, 300 words) TENNIS China Open, Beijing Nadal faces Mannarino, Raonic takes on Jaziri Men's world number four Rafa Nadal faces French qualifier Adrian Mannarino while third seed Milos Raonic of Canada takes on Tunisia's Malek Jaziri in the second round. (TENNIS-OPEN/CHINA-MEN, expect by 1630 GMT/12:30 PM ET, 300 words) Kerber faces Svitolina, Radwanska takes on Wozniacki Women's world number one Angelique Kerber of Germany takes on Ukrainian Elina Svitolina while third-ranked Agnieszka Radwanska meets Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki in the third round. (TENNIS-OPEN/CHINA-WOMEN, expect by 1530 GMT/11:30 AM ET, 300 words) RUGBY Pumas meet Wallabies in repeat of 2015 World Cup semi-final LONDON - Australia will have an eye on England and Argentina on avoiding the Rugby Championship wooden spoon when they meet for the second time in a year at Twickenham in a rerun of their 2015 World Cup semi-final on Saturday. (RUGBY UNION-CHAMPIONSHIP/ARGENTINA (PREVIEW), expect by 1830 GMT/14:30 PM ET, 400 words) We will also file a match factbox: RUGBY UNION- CHAMPIONSHIP/ARGENTINA (FACTBOX) BASEBALL Rangers host Blue Jays in ALDS opener The Toronto Blue Jays, fresh off a wild extra-innings wild card win, visit the top-seeded Texas Rangers in the opening game of the best-of-five American League Division Series. (BASEBALL-PLAYOFFS-TOR-TEX/ (PIX), expect by 0030 GMT/8:30 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 400 words) Indians, Red Sox clash in ALDS opener The Cleveland Indians will send Trevor Bauer to the mound versus the visiting Boston Red Sox, who will counter with Rick Porcello, in the opening game of the best-of-five American League Division Series. (BASEBALL-PLAYOFFS-BOS-CLE/ (PIX), expect by 0350 GMT/11:50 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 400 words) NFL Cardinals pay visit to rival 49ers The Arizona Cardinals (1-3) will be without starting quarterback Carson Palmer when they visit the NFC West division rival San Francisco 49ers (1-3) in the opening game of Week Five National Football League action. (NFL-49ers/, expect by 0350 GMT/11:50 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 400 words) NORTH AMERICAN SPORTS Roundups of off-field developments in the major North American professional sports leagues. (expect by 0000 GMT/8 PM ET, 500 words) (Europe duty editor: Toby Davis)
