Rosicky to lead Czechs

PRAGUE: Playmaker Tomas Rosicky will lead the Czech Republic in their final two World Cup qualifiers against Poland and Northern Ireland. Rosicky played 56 minutes in a qualifier against San Marino in September, the Arsenal midfielder’s first international match since October 2007. He has been playing regularly for his club and the Champions League this season. “His form is on the rise,” Czech coach Ivan Hasek said when he announced his 20-man squad on Friday. Czech Republic will play Poland on October 10 and Northern Ireland four days later in Prague. The Czechs are fourth in Group 3 with 12 points. — AP

Eduardo doubtful

ZAGREB: Croatian sharpshooter Eduardo Da Silva may miss his country’s October 14 World Cup qualifier with Kazakhstan after aggravating a thigh problem in Arsenal’s Champions League win over Olympiakos, Federation spokesman Davor Gavran said on Friday. Croatia need a win in their final match in Group Six to boost their chances of bagging a playoff place ahead of Ukraine. “We won’t rule out Eduardo entirely. I will examine him and then we will judge,” Croatina team Boris Nemec told daily Novi List. The Croatians will in any case be without Spurs midfielder Luka Modric, goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa and potentially defender Josip Simunic. — AFP

Oudin falls

BEIJING: US teen sensation Melanie Oudin, looking to extend her dream breakthrough season at the China Open, saw her hopes dashed on Friday when she failed to qualify for the main draw in Beijing. The 18-year-old Oudin, ranked 42nd in the world, was ousted by unheralded compatriot Alexa Glatch, the world number 115, in three sets, 2-6, 7-5, 6-3. Oudin burst onto the tennis scene in June with a fourth-round showing at Wimbledon, shocking former world number one Jelena Jankovic en route. The Georgia native followed that up with an even better run at Flushing Meadows, defeating fourth seed Elena Dementieva and another former number one, Maria Sharapova. — AFP

Udorn on song

TAIPEI: Thailand’s Udorn Duangdecha continued his title charge at the Mercuries Taiwan Masters by securing the second round lead in blustery conditions at the Taiwan Golf and Country Club on Friday. The 38-year-old recorded the day’s second hole-in-one at the 185-yard par-three eighth on his way to posting a three-under-par 69 for a two-day total of 10-under-par 134. Taiwan’s Chan Yih-shin, two shots adrift, also posted a 69 and is a single shot ahead of Lin Wen-tang, also from Taiwan, and Thailand’s Kwanchai Tannin, who hit matching 66s to share third place in the $500,000 tournament. — AFP

Cahill dedicates goal

MINSK: Everton’s Tim Cahill dedicated his Europa League match-winning goal against BATE Borisov on Thursday to the victims of the killer tsunami which devastated Samoa. Cahill, who was born in Sydney to a Samoan mother, celebrated his goal by falling to his knees before miming rowing a boat. “Me and my family are from Samoa, I’ve got a lot of family there that got caught in the tsunami, and it’s just sad,” Cahill said. “The celebration was a little bit of a tribute. I just felt in my heart it was the right thing to do.” — AFP