Reuters Sports Schedule at 1400 GMT on Thursday, June 29

June 29 (Reuters) - Reuters sports schedule at 1400 GMT on Thursday: SOCCER Confederations Cup Germany v Mexico SOCHI - World Cup holders Germany face CONCACAF champions Mexico in the semi-final after both teams came through the group stage unbeaten. (SOCCER-CONFEDERATIONS-GER-MEX/ (TV), expect by 2000 GMT/4 PM ET, 400 words) We will bring you all the latest news from the World Cup warm-up event in Russia as the teams prepare for the semi-finals. (SOCCER-CONFEDERATIONS/) European club news We will bring all the latest transfer news from around Europe as teams improve their squads for next season. (SOCCER-COUNTRY-TEAM/, expect throughout) TENNIS Wimbledon previews Laver says turning pro made him twice as good LONDON - It cost him five years of grand slam silverware, but Australian great Rod Laver says the decision to turn professional made him twice the player he was as an amateur. (TENNIS-WIMBLEDON/LAVER (INTERVIEW, PIX), moved, by Martyn Herman, 500 words) Pliskova will be armed and dangerous at Wimbledon LONDON - Karolina Pliskova has never got past the second round at Wimbledon in five main-draw appearances, but after a year to remember, the towering Czech looks armed and ready for an assault on the title. (TENNIS-WIMBLEDON/PLISKOVA (PIX), moved, by Toby Davis, 565 words) Male coaches continue to dominate women's game LONDON - Tennis has sought to lead the way on the equality front over the past 20 years by giving men and women the same prize money and billing in big tournaments - but a glance at the players' boxes tells a different story, with male coaches reigning supreme. (TENNIS-WIMBLEDON/WOMEN-COACHES (PIX), moved, by Pravin Char, 400 words) Aegon International Djokovic and Ostapenko in action EASTBOURNE - World number four Novak Djokovic takes on American Donald Young while French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko will face home favourite Johanna Konta in the Wimbledon warm-up tournament. (TENNIS-EASTBOURNE/, expect by 1600 GMT/12 PM ET, 300 words) RUGBY Lions to name side to face All Blacks with just two changes WELLINGTON - British and Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland names his side for the crucial second test against the All Blacks who have made just two personnel changes from their 30-15 win in the first match. (RUGBY-UNION-LIONS/, moved, by Greg Stutchbury, 400 words) OLYMPICS IOC President Thomas Bach checks Pyeongchang progress PYEONGCHANG - The International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach visits South Korea to check preparations for the 2018 Winter Games. (OLYMPICS-PYEONGCHANG/IOC) + See also: - OLYMPICS-BRITAIN/, moved, 390 words CYCLING Riding into a storm? Team Sky hope not DUSSELDORF - It is fair to say that Team Sky boss Dave Brailsford will be happy to talk strategy, gear ratios and Chris Froome's form for as long as anyone is listening over the next few weeks. (CYCLING-FRANCE/SKY (PIX), moved, by Martyn Herman, 620 words) Anything is possible, says French hope Bardet DUESSELDORF - The Tour de France has not had a home champion since 1985, but after Romain Bardet's second-placed finish last year there are high hopes that the wine-loving 26-year-old could be sipping champagne on the Champs Elysees in three weeks' time. (CYCLING-FRANCE/BARDET (INTERVIEW, PIX), moved, by Julien Pretot, 540 words) Porte plots to topple old team mate Froome on Tour DUESSELDORF - BMC's Australian rider Richie Porte says Chris Froome is still favourite for the Tour de France but is confident of pushing his old team mate all the way to Paris in the battle for the yellow jersey. (CYCLING-FRANCE/PORTE (PIX), expect by 1500 GMT/11 AM ET, by Martyn Herman, 400 words) GOLF PGA Tour Quicken Loans National (to 2) Shootout looms at Quicken Loans In-form contenders including Rickie Fowler, Justin Thomas and Patrick Reed, who were all up on the leaderboard at this month’s U.S. Open, are in the field for the Quicken Loans National at TPC Potomac where Billy Hurley III is back as defending champion. (GOLF-QUICKENLOANS/ (PREVIEW), expect by 2100 GMT/5 PM ET, 350 words) Women’s PGA Championship (to 2) LPGA: Women's PGA Championship (to 2) Stars collide at second major OLYMPIA FIELDS, Illinois - New world number one Ryu So-yeon and her immediate two predecessors, Ariya Jutanugarn and Lydia Ko, will have to stave off an eager list of challengers at the second women's major of the year starting at Olympia Fields on Thursday. (GOLF-WOMEN-PGACHAMP/ (PREVIEW), moved, by Andrew Both, 400 words) CRICKET Australia braces for turmoil as boycott looms MELBOURNE - Bitter negotiations over pay appear set to remain unresolved by a Friday deadline, leaving more than 200 of Australia's cricketers unemployed and potentially scuppering upcoming series against Bangladesh and England. (CRICKET-AUSTRALIA/PAY, moved, by Ian Ransom, 600 words) BASEBALL Division contenders Red Sox and Twins tangle American League East-contending Boston Red Sox hope Cy Young winner Rick Porcello (4-9) turns it around against surprise AL Central contenders the Minnesota Twins, while the Angels and Dodgers continue their Los Angeles derby in two of 15 games on the Major League Baseball schedule. (BASEBALL-MLB-HIGHLIGHTS/, moved, by The Sports Xchange, 800 words) (Editing by Alison Williams)