Among those she motivated: Beatrice Capra, an 18-year-old from Ellicott City, Md., and a wild-card entry who is following in Oudins footsteps at Flushing Meadows, albeit without any mottos on her shoes.

Beatrice Capra is happy to oblige her fans with autographs after h indeed, playing in the mai the 371st-ranked Capra upset 18th-seeded Aravane Rezai of France 7-5, 2-6, 6-3 Thursday to reach the third round of the U.S. Open.

Capra, who trains at the Evert Academy in Delray Beach, Fla., is the youngest and lowest-ranked player left in the womens field. She knows Oudin from the junior ranks and paid close attention in 2009, when a 17-year-old Oudin knocked off three-time major champion Maria Sharapova en route to the quarterfinals.

“I really look up to Melanie. I watched all of her matches last year, and I was just so happy for her. You know, it was really inspiring to me, because I played her a year before, and then she was getting to the quarters of a Grand Slam,” Capra said. “You know, I think shes pushed all of the Americans to do better.”

Capra beat 95th-ranked Karolina Sprem in the opening r 2006 U.S. Open champion Sharapova.

“When I was younger,” Capra said earnestly, “I used to always look up to her.”

Shes never met 23-year-old Sharapova, but now will be sharing a court with her. The 14th-seeded Sharapova reached the third round by beating 68th-ranked Iveta Benesova of the Czech Republic 6-1, 6-2 on Thursday night.

“If [Capra] wants to know, Ill definitely let her know what I think about it,” said Oudin, who won her doubles match Thursday. “Especially if she plays Sharapova, Id tell her how I thought I beat her last year.”

After losing in the second round of singles Wednesday, Oudin spoke about being a “tiny bit relieved” about the prospect of distancing herself from the expectations and spotlight that accompanied last years surprising run in New York.

More U.S. Open Spander: Wozniacki keeps rolling Federer cruises into third round Fan altercation leads to play delay Notes: Chang feels pain of lopsided loss Brackets: Women | Men Past champs: Women | Men

Now Oudin is keeping tabs on Capra, who goes by the nickname Trice, pronounced “Tree-See.”

“Im really, really happy that shes done well,” said Oudin, who is about 6½ months older. “For me, especially, Im, like, great with the other American girls doing well, because she can take some of the stuff away from me. With her doing well, there can be more of us for people to pay more attention to, instead of, like, just me. The past year, its been mainly on me.”

Indeed, on Thursday, it was Capra whose news conference began with a reporter saying, “Congratulations, and tell us your life story, please.”

It was Capra who was followed out of the main interview room by a pack of media members that essentially ignored the next player due to speak, No. 1-seeded Caroline Wozniacki.

It was Capra who was introduced to TV viewers during an appearance on the ESPN2 set.

It was Capra whose coach wanted to know whether she still plans on competing in the junior girls tournament (the answer: yes, for now).

It was Capra who was asked whether she has anything inscribed on her shoes, the way Oudin did in 2009 and 2010, with “COURAGE” replacing “BELIEVE.”

Twelve months ago, Capra was playing in the junior U.S. Open and hoping one day to play in the main event. Now shes doing just that - and winning. And it almost didnt happen. Two weeks ago, she lost at the girls 18s USTA national championships, which awards a U.S. Open wild card to the winner.

So Capra went home to Maryland, figuring she would “calm down and chill with my family,” and wait till next year to play in a Grand Slam tournaments main draw. But then she got a phone call from the U.S. Tennis Association, inviting her to go to Florida for an eight-player playoff for one wild card - and she won that.

“I was pretty excited,” Capra said Thursday, “but I never would have thought I would be in the third round here.”

Yet there she was, toppling Rezai, who made 49 unforced errors and wasnt exactly heaping praise on Capra afterward.

“The match depends on me, because I did a lot of errors,” Rezai said. “She did nothing very exceptional. Not many winners. A lot of lucky balls on the line.”

Perhaps. But its Capra, not Rezai, who is still competing at the U.S. Open.

Sharapova was asked what she knows about her next opponent.

“Not too much. I know that shes American, and shes 18, I believe,” Sharapova responded, “and shes in the third round of the Open, so that says a lot.”

The Switzerland football federation says Barnetta became sick on Friday morning and must sit out the friendly match against Australia in St. Gallen later in the day.

Coach Ottmar Hitzfeld has called up Sampdoria midfielder Marco Padalino as cover if Barnetta does not recover in time to face England at St. Jakob Park in Basel.

Switzerland opens its Euro 2012 qualifying program against England, which begins Group G play at home to Bulgaria on Friday.

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. — Brian McBride, whose scoring touch and tenacity earned him fans on both sides of the Atlantic, is calling it a career.

The 38-year-old McBride said Friday he will retire at the end of the season, his third with his hometown Chicago Fire. McBride has 78 goals and 51 assists in 11 years with Chicago and Columbus, where he still shares the Crew record for goals scored. He ranks third on the U.S. national teams all-time scoring list, and was so beloved at Fulham that the English Premier League team named a stadium bar after him.

McBride had three goals in three World Cup appearances for the United States, and was the first American to score in more than one tournament (1998 and 2002). His 30 goals in a U.S. uniform trail only Landon Donovan (45) and Eric Wynalda (34). McBride retired from international play after the 2006 World Cup, though he returned as one of the United States three older players at the 2008 Olympics.

McBride, an All-American at St. Louis, was the No. 1 pick in Major League Soccers first draft. He scored 62 goals and had 45 assists in eight years with the Crew, and his ability to create goals seemingly out of nothing caught the eye of English scouts. He was loaned out twice by MLS, first to Preston North End in 2000 and then to Everton two years later, scoring five goals in 17 games.

He left Columbus for good in January 2004, transferring to Fulham, and endeared himself to fans immediately by scoring in his first appearance for the Cottagers. He had 40 goals in 4½ years at Fulham, and led the team in scoring in 2006-07. He was named captain in August 2007, a rare honor for an American, and his return from injury is credited with sparking a remarkable late-season rally that saved Fulham from relegation.

McBride missed most of the 2007-08 season with a ruptured quadriceps and dislocated kneecap. After “Captain Courageous” returned, the Cottagers won four of their last five games to keep their spot in the Premier League. Though Fulham wasnt able to lure him back for another season, it renamed the bar at Craven Cottage “McBrides” as a tribute to his contributions.

Since joining the Fire in July 2008, the Arlington Heights, Ill., native has scored 16 goals and led Chicago to back-to-back appearances in the Eastern Conference finals.

The 2011 event take place in August, with matches to be played at the picturesque Champ de Mars near the Eiffel Tower. Wenger is being helped by former France players Lilian Thuram and Emmanuel Petit.

“We are here because we are aware that sport can help someones life take off,” Wenger said Friday in Paris. “The goal of this World Cup is to look at people who are left to one side in society and to try and help them through sport.”

Wenger said he fears homelessness will increase as people are flocking away from rural areas to cities in search of work.

“We are heading more and more toward big cities of 30-40 million inhabitants in the next 10-20 years,” he said. “Sport will have a very important role to play in controlling this phenomenon.”

It was Petit, who played under Wenger when Arsenal won the league and cup double in 1998, who first contacted Wenger and Thuram to get them involved.

“I am always proud when my former players take up ventures that are worth the trouble,” Wenger said. “I deeply believe that sport can change lives. It gives you a goal, a motivation, a discipline that can easily be lost when youre very young.”

Organizers hope that 70 teams and up to 700 players will be involved, an increase on the 67 teams taking part in this years Homeless World Cup on Rios Copacabana beach from Sept. 19-26.

Funding for the event, which has the backing of the French Football Federation, will cost around ?2 million ($2.58 million) mainly to cover lodgings and transport.

Petit, who won the World Cup with France in 1998, said his interest has been heightened after witnessing homeless people being humiliated daily near his Paris apartment.

“When you are in the street, stop for five minutes and look at the homeless people and look at how nasty people are to them. Its as if people swerve one meter away from them for fear of being contaminated,” Petit said. “We live in a society where people are scared of falling into poverty. There is less and less human rapport.”

Wenger says Arsenal donated ?700,000 ($900,000) this year to a charity helping homeless people in London between the ages of 15-25.

“I know the problem a little bit,” he said. “In every big city that exceeds 5-10 million people, you have a certain amount of young people who are homeless.”

Although football has made Wenger, Thuram and Petit very rich, Wenger said they have not forgotten that when they first fell in love with football it was not for financial reasons.

“We are super privileged people in a sport that is possibly the most money-orientated in our society,” he said. “But dont forget, neither I or them started to play football because of money. We played football because we love football.

“Sport was a motor in our lives to achieve something. The money came after,” Wenger added. “When I started playing there was no money in football, it came a long time afterward. It was a consequence of sport.”

After one of the more memorable Sundays in golf history, CBSSports.com senior writer Steve Elling and Augusta Chronicle columnist and golf writer Scott Michaux try not to bite off more than they can possibly chew.

Did the European points system produce the best Ryder Cup team possible?

ELLING: Uh, awk, urg, gurgle … Trying not to spit up my Wheaties in laughter at that notion. Not only did it fail to piece together the 12 players, it didnt come close. With an assist from the wildcard picks of captain Colin Montgomerie, the visiting American side has a better chance of winning than ever before. I am putting my money where my mouth is, too. In fact, for the first time at any golf event, I am going to plunk down some greenbacks on the underdogs at Ladbrokes when I get to the UK in four weeks. First, the last-minute tumult in the Euro points standings landed a spot for rookie Peter Hanson, plus longtime Ryder underachiever Miguel Angel Jimenez and his 2-7-3 record. Then Monty picked Padraig Harrington, who hasnt won in two years or logged a single win in a Ryder match in his last two appearances, and skipped over more-deserving players like Justin Rose and Paul Casey. Monty said he leaned toward personalities and pairings matchups with his three picks. From a jingoistic standpoint, for the American side. Caseys coach, Peter Kostis, nailed it Monday: “It sucks when you cant manage to get a player with two big PGA Tour wins [Rose] or a guy ranked No. 9 in the world [Casey] on the team. Their system is even more convoluted than FedEx Cup points.”

MICHAUX: The Europeans are so arrogant with their “we are better than the U.S.” team attitude that it might just cost them what many considered a slam-dunk victory in Wales as recently as a month ago. The convoluted points system produced the most underwhelming collection of 12 players from among the all-star candidates that it possibly could have. I liken it to a round when you hit every fairway and green and still shoot even par. Trading talent like Casey and Rose (presumably because they are too PGA Tour-centric) for Hanson and Jimenez is turning birdies into pars (or bogeys). Now a Euro squad that we all presumed would be loaded with Ryder Cup veterans has six rookies, a top star in Lee Westwood coming off a six-week injury layoff, another in Harrington who is in a two-year drought and a 46-year-old in Jimenez. Ironically, if theyd place priority value on their own Euro points half of the equation, it would have produced a better squad without all the controversy. The f Westwood, Martin Kaymer, Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell. If theyd added the fifth guy on the Euro points list (Ian Poulter) and then taken the next four guys on the world rankings list (Luke Donald, Edoardo Molinari, Harrington and Rose), suddenly all three of your captains picks are automatically in and Montys life becomes a lot easier. Monty could have taken Casey and any other two he wanted without any fuss at all. And he would have had five guys enjoying the benefit of riding the PGA Tour playoff surge into Wales.

Is Matt Kuchar, now No. 10 in the world ranking and leading the FedEx bonus race, for real?

ELLING: Not only is he legit, I would be personally stunned if he didnt hang tough all the way through the Ryder Cup matches Oct. 1-3. Kuchar has been amassing top-10 finishes at a clip like no other player. Now 32, maybe Kooch is a late bloomer. “I am a firm believer that guys dont reach their peak until 30-35 or so,” caddie Lance Bennett said. Theres been some work involved, too. Kuchar, who was bounced back to the Nationwide after losing his card, tore up his swing and became one of the most consistent guys in the world. He leads the tour in the all-around stat, a composite of eight key metrics like driving accuracy, greens in regulation and putting, and also tops the tour in scoring average. Last year, which at the time was his career-best, he missed advancing to the FedEx Cup finale in his hometown Atlanta because he screwed up the last round in Chicago and missed making the top 30. This time, you not only can pencil him in for East Lake, but assume he will be in the mix, too. His ascension and growing confidence levels have been impressive to watch.

MICHAUX: Are we really discussing whether a former U.S. Amateur champion who won on the PGA Tour as a rookie and now more than 10 years into his career leads the tour in scoring average and top 10s is for real? Id say this is clearly a case of the stats pretty much speaking for themselves. Kuchar has always been a talent waiting to emerge, and the forces in his life have finally aligned to the point where there is really no room for argument. Hes one of the best out there at knocking down pins and making them count by converting the putt. Kuchar could be the next Steve Stricker and become a late-blooming consistent force on the world stage. Now that he got off the schneid and into the win column last week, he will prove himself to be an even greater asset to the U.S. team at the Ryder Cup. That easy-going attitude of his will disarm any h smiling and making birdies. Who wouldnt want to be his partner? An all-Georgia Tech pairing of Kooch and Stewart Cink (assuming he gets a captains pick) could simply nice-guy the Euros to death.

After two starts in a row when he was not the top pick, Las Vegas has made Tiger the favorite again this week in Boston. Is he really back?

ELLING: No, but Tiger playing at 80 percent capacity is a guy that Vegas knows is going to generate some activity and interest. Woods had never been anything but the favorite dating back to the 1990s, but finally was knocked down the betting list at the PGA Championship and Barclays. This week, at TPC Boston, where he has won in the past, its hard to imagine that he wont continue to progress after last weeks surprising pick-me-up. Woods played his best round of the year at The Barclays, finally seemed to have an idea where the ball was going, was controlling the distance on his approaches as well as he had in at least a year, and has some of his swagger back. It was interesting being on the grounds last week in Jersey, when other players started paying attention to what Woods was doing for the first time in months. Is he back? Not hardly, not until he fixes his putting stroke and fully integrates his latest swing tweaks, should he elect to fully follow that path. But for the first time since last fall, the guy looked like some semblance of his ornery old self. How fans feel about that, of course, is up to them.

MICHAUX:He might not be all the way back, but at least it looks like hes on the road there. Woods downplayed the significance that finalizing his divorce had on his career, but he downplays everything. There is no way that any human going through all of the stuff hes had to go through over the last few months can be unaffected in all areas of their life. From the point when he stopped talking about saving his marriage, through the signing of the mutual separation agreement in early July to the getting-it-over-with part last week, Woods has been dealing privately with some stuff that we can only imagine, given our own personal portfolios. How can that not be a drain on your game? If closing that chapter didnt play a role in his improved play last week, it will eventually. Hes got a new normal life to embrace and the freedom to concentrate on working on his swing with his new swing coach. His talent didnt just disappear overnight. It just got mashed down beneath massive layers of personal crap. In a way, I think his mission of grinding through the playoffs will accelerate his recovery. And imagine how good it will feel to him to go to the Ryder Cup (assumption alert) as a wildcard pick with nothing else to focus on but the camaraderie of the team room and a European squad that bears all the pressure on its shoulders that he once held on his own. That could be quite fun to watch.

The 2003 U.S. Open champion had much bigger problems Wednesday night at Flushing Meadows, though, and bowed out in the second round with a 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (4) loss to 44th-ranked Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia.

The ninth-seeded Roddick often says the key to his game is how well he returns. He never was able to solve t only one fewer than the hard-hitting Roddick - and saved 3 of 5 break points he faced.

More U.S. Open Spander: Oudin ousted early this time Notes: Venus only playing singles Brackets: Women | Men Past champs: Women | Men

Tipsarevic also was terrific from the baseline, repeatedly winning lengthy rallies and passing Roddick when the 28-year-old American came to the net. Tipsarevic never before had reached the third round at the U.S. Open, and now will play No. 17 Gael Monfils.

Roddick won his only Grand Slam title at Flushing Meadows, and he also was the runner-up in 2006. His loss Wednesday leaves Roger Federer as the only past U.S. Open champion in the mens field.

This early exit follows a fourth-round loss for Roddick at Wimbledon and some poor results on the summer hard-court circuit, usually his best time of year. But he revealed recently that he had a mild case of mononucleosis and said he did not come to New York feeling 100 percent ready.

Already trailing 5-2 in the third set, Roddick wound up in an argument over a foot-fault call on the games first serve. He turned to the official and asked, “What foot?”

When she told him his right foot, he replied, “Thats impossible.” Roddick then turned to chair umpire Enric Molina and asked, “Has this foot gone in front of that foot ever in my career?”

Molina replied: “Not in my matches.”

Victoria Azarenka is taken off the court in a wheelchair. (Getty Images) although without the threatening or colorful language that Serena Williams used when she launched a tirade at a line judge over a foot call at the end of her semifinal loss to Kim Clijsters in last years semifinals.

“Not once in my entire career does my right foot go in front of my left foot,” Roddick said. “Not once. Ever.”

He missed his second serve for a double-fault, then continued to harangue the official, at one point jokingly making a reference to “1-800-Rent-a-Ref.”

A but with his left foot.

The scene was simply scary earlier in the day: Victoria Azarenka, a 21-year-old on the rise in the WTA rankings, paused about a half-hour into her second-round match, then staggered, stumbled and collapsed to the court.

Azarenka, seeded 10th in the Grand Slam tournament, rolled over to rest her head on her arm, and a trainer rushed over. Someone covered Azarenkas legs with a white towel. She retired from the match, eventually was helped into a wheelchair, her yellow visor askew atop her head, then taken to a hospital, where tests showed she had a mild concussion.

As a record-breaking summer suffocates New York, the temperature in Flushing Meadows headed into the 90s for a third consecutive day, and the mercury topped 100 degrees on court. But tournament referee Brian Early said Azarenkas problem did “not seem to be primarily a heat-related illness.”

Indeed, Azarenka herself later revealed she fell in the gym while warming up before the match, banging her head and arm in the gym.

“I was checked by the medical team before I went on court and they were courtside for monitoring. I felt worse as the match went on, having a headache and feeling dizzy,” said Azarenka, who is from Belarus but lives part of the year in Scottsdale, Ariz., with the family of NHL goalie Nikolai Khabibulin, someone she considers a mentor.

No. 9 Roddick was joined on the sideline by two other seeded men, thanks to 18-year-old American qualifier Ryan Harrisons 6-3, 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-4 victory over No. 15 Ivan Ljubicic, and Michael Llodras 7-6 (3), 6-4, 6-4 upset of Wimbledon runner-up and No. 7-seeded Tomas Berdych.

Harrison, who is based in Bradenton, Fla., is the first U.S. male teen to beat a top-20 opponent at any Grand Slam tournament since a 19-year-old Roddick knocked off No. 11 Alex Corretja at the 2001 U.S. Open.

You dont have to go nearly as far back to find a female teen from the United States who pulled off that sort of upset, of course: Melanie Oudin of Marietta, Ga., was 17 a year ago when she reached the U.S. Open quarterfinals by beating two top-20 players.

Oudins 2010 stay in New York was shorter: She lost in the second round Wednesday to No. 29 Alona Bondarenko 6-2, 7-5.

“Definitely disappointing,” Oudin said. “I still have, hopefully, like, 10 more years in my career, hopefully 10 more U.S. Opens ahead of me. So Ill definitely be looking forward again to next year.”

Among the seeded women bowing out was No. 21 Zheng Jie, overwhelmed 6-3, 6-0 by 2008 French Open champion Ana Ivanovic, who used to be ranked No. 1 but has tumbled to No. 40.

No. 13 Marion Bartoli, No. 28 Alisa Kleybanova and No. 32 Tsvetana Pironkova also lost. Pironkova was ranked only 82nd in June, when she shocked Venus Williams in the quarterfinals, and they could have met in the third round in New York. But Pironkova bowed out in straight sets against qualifier Mandy Minella of Luxembourg, who gets to face Williams instead.

Williams, who counts the 2000 and 2001 U.S. Opens among her seven Grand Slam titles, struggled for a bit against 193rd-ranked qualifier Rebecca Marino of Canada before pulling out a 7-6 (3), 6-3 win.

Marino actually led 3-1 in the tiebreaker, before Williams took the next six straight points to steal the opening set.

“She started returning better, serving bombs. I think she definitely upped her level,” Marino said. “I did notice at one point that she started to grunt pretty loudly. And its like, Whoa, shes getting serious here.”

Azarenka began wobbling early in her match against Gisela Dulko of Argentina, taking extra time between points and wincing occasionally, clearly in distress. Azarenka said she “started having trouble seeing and felt weak.”

She is an up-and-comer on tour, part of a group of young players seen as potential future Grand Slam champions. Azarenka beat Maria Sharapova in the final of a hard-court tournament in California last month and pushed Serena Williams to three sets before losing in the Australian Open quarterfinals in January.

Against Serena Williams in the fourth round of the 2009 Australian Open, Azarenka stopped in the second set, dizzy and in tears, and blamed a virus.

Her frightening exit Wednesday caught everyones attention. Top-seeded Caroline Wozniacki wrote on Twitter: “Did anyone watch Vikas match?? I really hope she is ok!”

The match was halted with Azarenka trailing Dulko 5-1.

“It was terrible. Its not nice to see someone feeling bad, not nice to win a match this way. I hope she feels OK now,” said Dulko, who walked around the net to check on the prone Azarenka. “I was worried for her.”

Winners included No. 4-seeded Andy Murray, the 2008 runner-up, who said he wore a hat during a match for the first time in four or five years because of the heat; No. 12 Mikhail Youzhny; No. 14 Nicolas Almagro; No. 18 John Isner, best known for his all-sorts-of-records-smashing Wimbledon marathon victory that ended 70-68 in the fifth set; and No. 20 Sam Querrey, who beat NCAA singles champion Bradley Klahn of Stanford 6-3, 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 in an all-American matchup.

At night, defending champion Kim Clijsters reached the third round by beating 201st-ranked qualifier Sally Peers of Australia 6-2, 6-1.

Blanc is so concerned that some of his younger players actually may not actually know how to sing “La Marseillaise” that he has been handing out sheets with the lyrics on.

“I have personally encouraged the players to sing the Marseillaise because I was practically certain some of them didnt know the words,” Blanc said on Thursday. “I think they will know the words to sing it now, but everyones free to do what they want. They know my way of thinking, though: if you know the national anthem of your country its preferable to sing it.”

Frances reputation is at an all-time low following its World Cup training strike fiasco and Blanc knows that the team has to get back to winning ways very soon.

Crucially, it must also win back the legions of fans it let down in South Africa and Blanc thinks a strong showing of national pride at Stade de France will help.

“I dont have many opportunities to sing it. I admit I dont sing it under the shower,” Blanc added. “But when you are representing your country - and God knows when you play for the national team you are - its a pleasure to sing it.”

France defender Bakary Sagna would accept it if the fans boo the team.

“I would totally understand. I know they would like us to set a good example,” Sagna said. “They would like to see us win. Weve forgotten what victorys all about, and we have the chance to do it.”

Blanc, who took over from Raymond Domenech, is also sweating over the fitness of Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema after he hurt an ankle in training earlier this week.

“Further tests revealed theres nothing serious, but hes still in pain,” Blanc said.

Blanc is without Manchester United defender Patrice Evra, Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery and Chelsea forward Nicolas Anelka - who were all suspended by the French Football Federation for their part in Frances World Cup fiasco.

The whole France squad refused to train ahead of their final group game against World Cup host South Africa in protest of Anelka being sent home by the FFF for insulting Domenech.

Evra clashed with the fitness coach and one FFF official resigned on the spot in disgust as live images were beamed back home to angry fans and politicians alike.

After nearly four years out of the French team, all of this seems odd to the recalled Everton striker Louis Saha, who is perplexed at how a once successful team has fallen so low.

France is now 21st in the FIFA world rankings, lower than Australia and the United States even though neither of those countries perceives football as its major sport.

“Its bizarre. In my opinion, its easier for a player to play in the France team because there are better players, better pitches, better infrastructure,” Saha said. “We have to get back in the top 10, bring a new dynamic to France.”

Blanc, who won the World Cup in 1998 and the 2000 European Championship as a player, says the low ranking makes him “nauseous.”

“If your players have some talent but not the right team spirit, you wont play well,” Blanc said. “Its not enough to have talented players at your disposal, you have to turn them into a good team.”

To help get his message across, Blanc invited former France playmaker Zinedine Zidane and goalkeeper Fabien Barthez to the teams training camp on Wednesday.

Blanc has injury concerns and is also struggling to build a defense - the hallmark of Frances winning teams.

Evra is suspended for five games and center-halves Philippe Mexes and Adil Rami played together for the first time in the 2-1 loss to Norway in last months friendly.

“People need time to get to know each other and to play well,” Blanc said.

Arsenal left back Gael Clichy has played only five times for France, but looks to set for a run in Evras absence.

Blanc has not decided on his new captain yet. Chelsea winger Florent Malouda or Alou Diarra - who was Blancs captain at Bordeaux - are tipped to take the armband.

“If there is one player who stands out because of his personality, his charisma and who is irreproachable in terms of his mentality, he will be captain,” Blanc said.

Lilles Yohan Cabaye and Real Madrids Lassana Diarra both pulled out this week with injuries.

With Yoann Gourcuff suspended, Blanc has no playmaker and could switch to a 4-4-2 formation with Diarra and Arsenals Abou Diaby in central midfield.

Malouda is certain to start on the left wing, with Romas Jeremy Menez tipped to take the right flank.

If he recovers, Benzema may be partnered by either Saha, Loic Remy, newcomer Kevin Gameiro or Guillaume Hoarau.

Belarus coach Bernd Stange thinks the time is right to beat France.

“If our team plays at 100 percent, we will have the chance to really spoil the mood of the hosts,” Stange said.

The French are focusing on the feel-good factor and the FFF slashed ticket prices, with 10,000 seats available for ?10 ($13) each.

The Inter Milan defender, who will turn 41 in August 2014, said in an interview aired late Wednesday that anything is possible. He said he had no hard feelings over being excluded by Maradona.

Zanetti has been called up by interim coach Sergio Batista for Tuesdays friendly against World Cup winner Spain.

“I dont rule out anything,” Zanetti said. “Ill enjoy the Tuesday game. Well see what the future brings.”

Zanetti has played 136 times for his country, more than any Argentine player. He was also left out of the 2006 squad by coach Jose Pekerman.

“When Diego made up his player list, he decided on someone besides me,” Zanetti said. “Yes it hurt, but I accepted the decision.”

Batista has also included Inter Milan midfielder Esteban Cambiasso, another player overlooked by Maradona.

“Starting versus Belgium will be tough as Belgian players will be very motivated to play in front of their own public,” said defender Philipp Lahm, who will be Germany captain on Friday.

Still, he said, they want to start out with three points.

Even if Belgium has slumped from 16th to 49th in the FIFA world rankings within six years, it still has plenty of players in the big leagues, including Lahms Bayern Munich teammate, Daniel Van Buyten.

“The Belgian players are playing in important football clubs, and they are used to play major football competitions, so this is why we would never underestimate them,” Germany assistant coach Hans-Dieter Flick said.

Germany reached the semifinals of the World Cup, losing only to eventual winner Spain 1-0 and beguiled everyone with its open, creative play. By now, though, German fans are craving a trophy again, 14 years after winning Euro 1996 in England.

“We will give everything and hope to do a great game and a great tournament,” said Lahm, who also played in the 1-0 loss to Spain in the Euro 2008 final.

In comparison, Belgium has failed to qualify for a major tournament since 2002.

Turkey, Austria and Kazakhstan are the other teams in Group A, making it a tall order for Belgium to advance.

After Dick Advocaat quit as coach in April, barely half a year after joining, Belgium went back to coach Georges Leekens. The former bruising defender led the Belgians to the 1998 World Cup.

Sorenstam had three birdies before Cristie Kerr and Hunter Mahan rallied with six birdies on the back nine for a 10-under 62 and a two-shot victory at Notah Begays NB3 Challenge.

“It all comes down to the back nine because everybody plays well in a format like this,” Kerr said. “It just comes down to whos gonna make a couple more putts coming in. We were fortunate enough today to do that. We gave ourselves a good look at birdies.”

Kerr and Mahan trailed Sorenstam and Fowler by two shots at the turn before pulling away in the closing holes to win the $100,000 top prize in the best-ball competition at Atunyote Golf Club.

Sorenstam and Fowler (64) were second, followed by Vijay Singh and Suzann Pettersen (66), Camilo Villegas and Anna Rawson (67), Anthony Kim and Morgan Pressel (68), and Begay and Lorena Ochoa (69).

The event is the chief fundraiser for Begays foundation, which is dedicated to helping fight obesity and diabetes in the Native American community. He was presented a check for $1.25 million afterward.

“We feel we can make an impact on their lives,” Begay said.

The field was grouped into six mixed teams, with the ladies hitting from the shorter tee boxes.

The 39-year-old Sorenstam, who retired after the 2008 season, apologized to Fowler before they teed off.

“I havent played. Sorry Rickie,” said Sorenstam, who also was preparing for her daughters birthday on Wednesday.

There wasnt much to apologize for.

Shortly after a fan shouted “great to see you back,” Sorenstam hit inside 3 feet at the 198-yard, par-3 third hole for an easy birdie. Not to be outdone, Ochoa matched her with a birdie putt from just inside 10 feet.

At the 185-yard, par-3 sixth hole, Sorenstam and Ochoa both drove into the right rough beside the green. This time, Sorenstam reached back into her glorious past with a beautiful chip that bounced on the green and rolled in the cup for another birdie.

Sorenstam raised both hands in appreciation of the roar of the crowd, which hovered around 3,000 on a hot, hazy day with temperatures in the high 80s, then tossed her ball to a fan and headed for the next tee.

Something happened to Sorenstams second shot at the par-4 eighth hole as it landed well short of the green. It didnt matter when Fowler rattled home a 40-foot uphill eagle putt that put them at 6 under and gave them a two-shot lead over Mahan and Kerr and Begay and Ochoa heading to the back nine.

“I made four birdies, chipped in twice. Im not complaining, its my best finish all year,” Sorenstam said with a smile. “I love it. Its always fun to see my friends, but Im tired. My feet hurt. Im not used to it. Im a little rusty.”

Begay and Ochoa made bogey and double-bogey in the first three holes on the back to fall out of contention. Kerr had three birdies on the front nine and five on the back as she and Mahan surged into the lead.

“We gave ourselves a good look at birdies. We leaned on each other all the time,” Kerr said. “We were just having a lot of fun helping each other read putts. I think thats what this event is all about, teamwork.”

Fowler, who is part Navajo, missed short birdies putt at Nos. 15 and 16 before making birdie at 18 as he and Sorenstam fell just short.

Just being part of the fundraiser was all that mattered to every player.

“I was pumped to be part of it, especially to have Annika as a partner,” Fowler said. “Its pretty special to be here.”

Ochoa, who retired four months ago at the height of her game, said the transition to private life had been “way easier than I thought.”

“I made the right decision,” she said. “Im still very competitive. I think I did my job inside the ropes. Now its time to work outside the ropes.”