■SOCCER
Larsson likely to call it a day
Henrik Larsson indicated on Sunday that he’ll quit the Swedish national team next week even if they qualify for the World Cup. The striker became Sweden’s oldest ever outfield player in their 1-0 loss to Denmark on Saturday at 38 years, 20 days. He hinted that Sweden’s final Group 1 game against Albania tomorrow could be his last for the team to cap a brilliant international career. To get into the playoffs, Sweden must win and hope Portugal slip up against Malta. “It’s probably over now,” Larsson said. “Today, I feel that there will be no World Cup even if we qualify.” Larsson has retired several times before only to come back, but he says this time is different. “I’m 38, it’s not likely that I will not commit myself to more championships,” he said. The former Celtic and Barcelona star, who broke through when Sweden finished third at the 1994 World Cup, believes Sweden still have a chance to reach next year’s tournament in South Africa. “We must still believe that we can qualify,” Larsson said. “Think if something happens in Portugal and we don’t win ... I would never forgive myself.” He will end the season with hometown team Helsingborg on Nov. 1, which could be the last match of his career. “I don’t know what will happen,” he said. “I’d like to become a coach. I’ve gained a lot of experience throughout the years.”
■RUGBY UNION
Brawl hospitalizes three
Three Romanian players were hospitalized after a fight broke out between players in a Central and Eastern European Rugby Cup match, an official said yesterday. The incident took place on Sunday in Arad during a match between CSU Arad and RCM Timisoara. Danut Borzas, manager of RCM said the players started punching and kicking each other about 20 minutes into the match. Players on the bench joined the brawl. One player was hospitalized with head injuries. Another player had a broken nose and the third sustained facial injuries and had several teeth knocked out. “We received threats before the match,” Borzas said. “We have three players in hospital. They were punched and thrown to the ground and then kicked.” Borzas said he would complain to the Romanian Rugby Federation and possibly to the International Rugby Federation.
■TENNIS
Henin gets Open wildcard
Former world No. 1 Justine Henin has been granted a wildcard to play in next year’s Australian Open, organizers said yesterday. The 27-year-old Belgian, who won the event in 2004, announced last month that she was ending her self-imposed retirement. Her coach, Carlos Rodriguez, said last week that Henin was likely to make her return in the Brisbane International, starting on Jan. 3, ahead of the Jan. 18-Jan. 31 Australian Open in Melbourne. “I spoke to Justine’s team over the weekend and was happy to grant her request for a wildcard into the Australian Open,” tournament director Craig Tiley said in a statement.
■SOCCER
Ronaldo facing layoff
Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo’s injured right ankle will keep him out for three or four weeks, Spanish media said yesterday. “Madrid upset; they think Portugal should not have pushed the player,” to turn out for Saturday’s World Cup qualifier against Hungary, headlined Marca. “It was reckless of him to play,” Marca quoted a Real Madrid source as saying. “Understandable recklessness, but reckless.” Ronaldo had shaken off a twist to the same ankle to start the Group One clash, but lasted just 27 minutes of the 3-0 victory.
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