Sporting briefs

Mosca: Italian veteran journalist Maurizio Mosca passed away on Friday following a long battle with illness. Mosca's journalistic career spanned over 30 years, working for La Gazzetta dello Sport and was also a pundit on TV programmes Guida al Campionato and Controcampo.

Fernando: Girondins Bordeaux's Brazilian midfielder Fernando is likely to be out for the rest of the season after fracturing his cheekbone in yesterday's 2-1 home defeat by Nancy. "I think Fernando's season is probably over," coach Laurent Blanc said.

Malouda: Chelsea's Florent Malouda hopes his performances for the English Premier League leaders can persuade France coach Raymond Domenech to install him as a regular starter in this year's World Cup. "If I am at my best then I'm able to be part of that team," he said.

South Korea: South Korea have lined up European champions Spain for their final warm-up before they head to South Africa for the World Cup in June. The South Korean squad will assemble on May 9 and play Ecuador a week later in Seoul before taking on Japan in Saitama on May 21.

Motor racing: Retired British Formula One driver David Coulthard will return to the racetrack with Mercedes in the German Touring Car (DTM) series this season, he said yesterday. None of the races clash with Formula One, allowing the 39-year-old to continue with his current role of BBC television pundit. "I am missing adrenalin," the Scot, a winner of 13 F1 races with Williams and McLaren, said at the Malaysian Grand Prix.

Golf: Chinese teenager Zhang Jin successfully battled the Beijing winds to top northern qualifying for the $2.6 million China Open by a stunning eight shots. At 14 years and five months, the Beijing amateur is likely to be the youngest player in the field at the European Tour and OneAsia sanctioned event at the Jinji Lake International Golf Club in Suzhou from April 15-18.

Cricket: England cricketer Graeme Swann was arrested on suspicion of drink-driving, a newspaper said yesterday. The Nottinghamshire off-spinner, ranked the second best bowler in the world, was stopped as he returned to his home in the West Bridgford area of Nottingham, central England, said the Daily Mirror. The tabloid said the 31-year-old was stopped round the corner from a police station and about a mile (1.5 kilometres) from his home. He was arrested following a roadside breath test and later released on bail, the paper said.

Basketball: Rajon Rondo shattered Bob Cousy's 50-year Boston record for single-season assists when he collected 10 against Houston on Friday to reach 724. Hall of Famer Cousy's 715 had stood as the franchise mark since the 1959-60 season. The Celtics lost 119-114 in overtime to the Rockets.