Reuters Sports Schedule at 0001 GMT on Friday, March 24

Reuters sports schedule at 0001 GMT on Friday:

SOCCER

World Cup 2018 qualifiers

South America qualifying

Brazil face tough test of their winning form in Uruguay

MONTEVIDEO - Brazil, who have notched seven successive wins but lost exciting striker Gabriel Jesus to injury, face the toughest test of their brilliant form away to Uruguay in a clash of the top two teams in the South American group. (SOCCER-WORLDCUP-URY-BRA/, expect by 0100 GMT/9:00 PM ET, 400 words)

Argentina need points after slipping to fifth in standings

BUENOS AIRES - Argentina must beat Chile at home to leapfrog them into the four qualifying berths in the South American group before the daunting trip to La Paz five days later to face Bolivia at high altitude. (SOCCER-WORLDCUP-ARG-CHL/, expect by expect by 0130 GMT/9:30 PM ET, 400 words)

Europe qualifying (kickoff 1945 GMT unless stated)

Group D

Georgia v Serbia (1700)

Austria v Moldova

Ireland v Wales

Group G

Italy v Albania

Liechtenstein v Macedonia

Spain v Israel

Group I

Turkey v Finland (1700)

Croatia v Ukraine

Kosovo v Iceland

Italy and Spain vie for Group G supremacy

Italy and Spain will be looking to maintain their status as joint leaders in Group G when they host on Albania and Israel respectively.

(SOCCER-WORLDCUP-ESP-ISR/, expect by 2145 GMT/5:15PM ET, by Richard Martin, 400 words)

(SOCCER-WORLDCUP-ITA-ALB/, expect by 2145 GMT/5:15PM ET, 400 words)

We will also cover short match reports on other selected matches.

Football Talks event with FIFA and UEFA presidents

LISBON - Portuguese Football Federation organises the Football Talks event with participation of FIFA and UEFA presidents among other participants. (SOCCER-FOOTBALl-TALKS/

MOTOR RACING

Formula One

Australian Grand Prix, Melbourne (26)

Drivers hit the track for first practice of season

MELBOURNE - Drivers put their cars through their paces at the first free practice sessions in the season-opening Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park (MOTOR-F1-AUSTRALIA/ (PIX), expect by 0200 GMT/10:PM ET, by Ian Ransom, 300 words)

CRICKET

India v Australia, fourth test, Dharamsala (from 25)

Captains Kohli and Smith preview series decider

DHARAMSALA, India - India captain Virat Kohli and his Australian counterpart Steve Smith preview the winner-take-it-all finale of the four-test series, tied at 1-1. (CRICKET-INDIA/ (PIX), expect by 1000 GMT/6 AM ET, by Amlan Chakraborty, 400 words)

NBA

Spurs battle Grizzlies, Clippers face Mavs

The San Antonio Spurs try to inch closer to the Western Conference-leading Golden State Warriors when they host the Memphis Grizzlies while Los Angeles Clippers put their three-game win streak on the line against the host Dallas Mavericks in two of the five games on the National Basketball Association schedule. (NBA-HIGHLIGHTS/, expect by 0530 GMT/1:30 AM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 800 words)

NHL

Caps face division rival Blue Jackets

The Washington Capitals and Columbus Blue Jackets battle in a clash of teams fighting for top spot in the Metropolitan division while Connor McDavid's Edmonton Oilers visit the Colorado Avalanche in two of the 12 games on the National Hockey League schedule. (ICEHOCKEY-NHL-HIGHLIGHTS/, expect by 0530 GMT/1:30 AM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 400 words)

OLYMPICS

Tokyo 2020 Press Conference

TOKYO - News conference by organising committee spokeswoman Hikariko Ono after a regular meeting of the Tokyo 2020 Executive Board. (OLYMPICS-TOKYO/ (TV), expect by 1000 GMT/6 AM ET, by Christopher Gallagher, 400 words)

GOLF

PGA Tour: WGC-Dell Match Play, Austin (to 26)

Johnson stays perfect as McIlroy eliminated at Match Play

World number one Dustin Johnson continued his perfect record at the WGC-Dell Match Play on Friday while number two Rory McIlroy was eliminated without even setting foot on the course. (GOLF-MATCHPLAY/ (TV), moved, 400 words)

PGA Tour: Puerto Rico Open (to 26)

Newlywed Mullinax grabs Puerto Rico lead

PGA Tour rookie Trey Mullinax, playing five days after getting married, fired a nine-under-par 63 to grab the first-round lead at the Puerto Rico Open. (GOLF-PUERTORICO/, moved, 200 words)

TENNIS

ATP/WTA: Miami Open (to 2)

Pliskova, Cibulkova cruise into third around at Miami

Czech second seed Karolina Pliskova cruised into the third round of the Miami Open with a 6-1 6-3 win over Madison Brengle, while Dominika Cibulkova beat Paraguayan qualifier Veronica Cepede Royg 6-3 6-2. (TENNIS-MIAMI/WOMEN, moved, 250 words)

RUGBY

Super Rugby - week five

Crusaders v Force (0635)

Rebels v Waratahs (0845)

Todd celebrates new contract against Force

Canterbury Crusaders flanker Matt Todd celebrates his contract extension with the team and New Zealand Rugby as the unbeaten Christchurch-based side play a Western Force team fighting for their very survival in the competition. (RUGBY UNION-SUPER/CRUSADERS, expect by 0900 GMT/5 AM ET, 300 words)

AUSTRALIAN RULES

'Footy diplomacy' paves way for push into China

MELBOURNE - Grabbing a slice of China's huge market has proved elusive for an array of foreign sports but the full-contact game of Australian Rules is planning to tackle the nation head-on with a soft-power offensive backed by business and diplomacy. (AUSTRALIAN RULES-CHINA/ (FEATURE, PIX), expect by 0600 GMT/2 AM ET, by Ian Ransom, 831 words)

CYCLING

Tour of Catalonia

Van Garderen aims to hold on to overall lead

BARCELONA - American Tejay van Garderen defends his overall lead going into stage five, a 182-kilometre route from Valls to Lo Port (Tortosa). (CYCLING-CATALONIA/, expect by 1700 GMT/1 PM ET, 200 words) (Asia desk editor: Nick Mulvenney)

(This article has not been edited by DNA's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)