WORLD SPORTS at 1330 GMT
TOP STORY:
SOC--ENGLAND SPOTLIGHT-FLYING FULLBACKS
MANCHESTER, England — It has often been viewed as the least glamorous position in soccer, a role no kid wanted to have on the school field and one that was long overlooked even in the professional game. The fullback has had a makeover in recent years and nowhere is the position's resurgence better demonstrated than in the Premier League this season. By Steve Douglas. SENT: 800 words, photos.
NEW/DEVELOPING:
KIGALI, Rwanda — Players unions are urging FIFA to rethink the planned prize money for the Women's World Cup, complaining the $50 million financial package is dwarfed by the cash committed to the men's tournament. By Rob Harris. UPCOMING: 500 words by 1700 GMT.
FOOTBALL:
SOC--SPAIN SPOTLIGHT-LOPETEGUI'S CHANCE
MADRID — Real Madrid coach Julen Lopetegui will likely have to find a way to succeed in the "clasico" against Barcelona this weekend to have a chance to save his job and possibly even his coaching future. By Tales Azzoni. SENT: 585 words, photos.
SOC--GERMANY SPOTLIGHT-LEVERKUSEN
BERLIN — Bayer Leverkusen coach Heiko Herrlich is under pressure after an indifferent start to the season. The club had hopes of challenging for a top-four place and qualification for the Champions League, but Herrlich's team is 13th with just two wins from its opening eight games in the Bundesliga. By Ciaran Fahey. SENT: 535 words.
SOC--ITALY SPOTLIGHT-LOWER-DIVISION CHAOS
ROME — Two months into the season, several clubs in Italy's lower divisions still don't know which league they will be playing in and some teams have hardly played at all. The disorder has highlighted the failure of Italy's sports justice system. By Andrew Dampf. SENT: 520 words, photos.
SOC--EUROPA LEAGUE ROUNDUP
Arsenal is at Sporting in a matchup of two teams with a perfect record in the Europa League while seven-time European champion AC Milan hosts Real Betis and Chelsea faces BATE Borisov at Stamford Bridge at the third round of 24 matches on Thursday. By 2130 GMT, 500 words. By Karel Janicek. With photos.
SOC--MLS-ROONEY IN THE PLAYOFFS
WASHINGTON — All of the doubters were wrong about what Wayne Rooney could still do on a soccer field and now he has D.C. United headed to the MLS playoffs. By Ian Quillen. SENT: 750 words, photos.
CYCLING:
CYC--TOUR DE FRANCE-2019 ROUTE
PARIS — Next year's Tour de France will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the showcase race's iconic yellow jersey. By Jerome Pugmire. SENT: 630 words, photos.
CYC--BRUYNEEL-LIFETIME BAN
Lance Armstrong's former team manager has been given a lifetime ban from the sport for his role in a doping program that helped Armstrong win the Tour de France seven times. Johan Bruyneel had been serving a 10-year ban from cycling. By Jim Vertuno. SENT: 445 words, photos.
GOLF:
GLF--HSBC CHAMPIONS
SHANGHAI — Patrick Reed returns from his post-Ryder Cup break with a 64 and a 2-shot lead in HSBC Champions. SENT: 900 words, photos.
GLF--LPGA TAIWAN
SAOYUAN, Taiwan — Jodi Ewart Shadoff shot 7-under 65 to take a two-stroke lead after the first round of the LPGA Taiwan Championship. SENT: 300 words.
TENNIS:
SINGAPORE — Karolina Pliskova won the first set to eliminate Petra Kvitova, and then won the second set to advance to the semifinals at the WTA Finals. By: SANDRA HARWITT. SENT: 250 words, photos.
BASEBALL:
BBO--WORLD SERIES
BOSTON — David Price pitched six innings of three-hit ball, and major league RBI leader J.D. Martinez hit a two-run single during another two-out rally that sent the Boston Red Sox to a 4-2 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers for a 2-0 lead in the World Series. By Jimmy Golen. SENT: 955 words, photos.
RUGBY:
RGU--NEW ZEALAND-AUSTRALIA
TOKYO — Damian McKenzie will start at fullback and T.J. Perenara at scrumhalf in a surprising All Blacks backline formation for Saturday's third Bledisloe Cup test against Australia at Yokohama. SENT: 600 words, photo.
Other Stories:
—BKN--NBA CAPSULES
OAKLAND, California — Curry hits 11 3s, nets 51 as Warriors top Wizards 144-122. SENT: 1,145 words, photo.
—HKN--NHL CAPSULES
WINNIPEG, Manitoba — Nazem Kadri scores 1st goal, Maple Leafs beat Jets 4-2. SENT: 320 words, photo.
YOUR QUERIES: Questions and story requests are welcome. Contact your local AP bureau or the AP International Sports Desk in London by telephone at +44 207 427 4224 or email lonsports@ap.org.
