Reuters Sports Schedule at 1400 GMT on Friday, Dec 18

Reuters sports schedule at 1400 GMT on Friday: SOCCER Hiddink in talks with Chelsea LONDON - Dutchman Guus Hiddink has confirmed he has held talks with Chelsea about becoming the Premier League club's interim manager but has not made up his mind about accepting the role. Hiddink, who performed a similar role in 2009 at the west London club, is favourite to replace Jose Mourinho who was sacked by the English champions on Thursday after Chelsea's dismal start to the season. (SOCCER-ENGLAND/CHE-HIDDINK, moved) - - Suspended Blatter appears before FIFA ethics board Suspended FIFA President Sepp Blatter appeared before the ethics committee of world soccer's governing body on Thursday in a case that could end with him banned from the sport for years. (SOCCER FIFA/, moved, by John Miller and Brenna Hughes Neghaiwi, 450 words) - - FIFA Club World Cup, Japan (to 20) River's workmen to face Barcelona's artists in final YOKOHAMA, Japan - South America's best players will be playing against the team from their own continent as Barcelona meet River Plate in the Club World Cup final on Sunday. (SOCCER-CLUB/ (PREVIEW), moved, by Brian Homewood, 400 words) - - Bundesliga Schalke 04 v Hoffenheim (1930) Schalke bid to end winless streak against Hoffenheim Schalke 04 have won just one in their last seven Bundesliga matches, but can get back on track with victory at home to Hoffenheim, who secured their first win last weekend under coach Huub Stevens since the Dutchman took over in late October. SOCCER-GERMANY/, expect by 2130 GMT/4:30 PM ET, 300 words). - - Ligue 1 Nice v Montpellier HSC (1930) Copy on merit - - Dutch championship Vitesse Arnhem v Twente Enschede (1900) Copy on merit - - We will also have the latest team news ahead of this weekend's Premier League matches. (SOCCER-ENGLAND/, expect throughout) - - - - CRICKET New Zealand v Sri Lanka, second test, Hamilton (to 22) Boult strikes before rain ends first day early Trent Boult took two wickets in one over and broke a partnership that had threatened to take the game out of New Zealand's reach as Sri Lanka reached 264 for seven by the end of a rain-shortened first day of the second test on Friday. (CRICKET-NEWZEALAND/, moved, 400 words) - - - - NFL Rookies take centre stage in Week 15 opener A matchup featuring two of the National Football League's best rookies kicks off Week 15 action as quarterback Jameis Winston and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers look to keep their playoff hopes alive when they visit the slumping St. Louis Rams and Todd Gurley. (NFL-RAMS/, expect by 0515 GMT/12:15 AM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 400 words) - - - - NBA LeBron's Cavs set for showdown with Thunder LeBron James and the Eastern Conference-leading Cleveland Cavaliers host Russell Westbrook and the Oklahoma City Thunder in a matchup featuring two of the game's best players. (NBA-CAVALIERS/, expect by 0430 GMT/11:30 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 400 words) - - Kobe's Lakers set for clash Kobe Bryant, fresh off one of the more efficient games of his final season, leads the Los Angeles Lakers in a home game versus James Harden and a Houston Rockets team that have lost two straight games. (NBA-LAKERS/, expect by 0700 GMT/2 AM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 400 words) - - - - NHL Red-hot Flames look to extend win streak The Calgary Flames will try to extend the longest active win streak to seven games when they visit the Central division-leading Dallas Stars while the Montreal Canadiens host the Los Angeles Kings in a matchup of division leaders in two of the 11 games on the National Hockey League schedule. (NHL-HIGHLIGHTS/, expect by 0430 GMT/11:30 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 800 words) - - - - NORTH AMERICAN SPORTS Roundups of off-field developments in the major North American professional sports leagues. (expect by 0100 GMT/8:00 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 400 words) (Europe desk editor: Ed Osmond)