Santa Cruz: Paraguay striker Roque Santa Cruz, a veteran of three World Cups, announced yesterday he will retire from international football after their qualifiers against Peru and Bolivia. The 35-year-old, who is winding down his career at his first club Olimpia, was included in coach Francisco Arce’s squad for the World Cup 2018 qualifiers against Peru in Asuncion tomorrow and away to Bolivia next Tuesday.

Araujo: Las Palmas striker Sergio Ezequiel Araujo was sentenced to nine months in prison by a Spanish court yesterday after being found guilty of a driving offence but he is unlikely to serve time in jail. The 24-year-old Argentine was also banned from driving for two years for refusing to take a breathalyser after being stopped by police on Sept. 26. Araujo is unlikely to go to prison because under Spanish law any sentence of under two years for a non-violent crime does not usually require a defendant without previous convictions to do so.

Montero: Swansea City winger Jefferson Montero is to consult a specialist after fracturing a bone in his hand. The 27-year-old suffered the injury in a fall during Sunday’s 3-1 defeat by Man. United after coming on as a half-time substitute. Montero was able to finish the game and then flew straight to Ecuador for international duty where an X-ray revealed the damage.

FA Cup: Bolton were handed a tough FA Cup second-round draw as they were given a home tie against Sheffield United. Bolton edged out the Blades 1-0 on the opening day of the season, with both teams currently chasing promotion in League One. Westfields will host Bury or AFC Wimbledon, if they can beat Curzon Ashton in a first-round replay.

N. Ireland: Wide men Jamie Ward and Stuart Dallas have withdrawn from the N. Ireland squad to face Azerbaijan in the World Cup qualifier on Friday. Ward broke his wrist against Barnsley at the weekend and is expected to be out for several weeks while Dallas will return to Leeds to continue his recovery from a calf problem.

Juric: Australia striker Tomi Juric has been ruled out of next week’s World Cup qualifier against Thailand in Bangkok after suffering a knee injury. Juric limped off the field early in the Swiss league match against Young Boys on Sunday and he would be unavailable for the Nov. 15 match against Thailand.

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