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England will be boosted by the services of their foreign legion as they aim to prevent Russia recording a 10th successive win in the final game of their European Championship semi-final group next week. In the squad announced yesterday for the match at Guildford Spectrum next Wednesday, the return of Porto centre Ian Whyte in place of London Towers' Martin Gottfried is the only change from last month's match with Portugal. Whyte joins fellow Britons abroad John Amaechi (Panathinaikos), Steve Bucknall (Iraklis), Spencer Dunkley (Besancon), and Delme Herriman (Trieste) in the English squad eager to add to their solitary win in Group B. In the corresponding fixture in Moscow a year ago, Russia recorded a 114-59 victory, and have been in ominous form during the semi-final phase, their place in the finals long since secured.

Less than two years after he guided the team to the NBA Finals, Brian Hill was fired as head coach of the Orlando Magic. The team announced yesterday that Hill had been replaced by the assistant coach Richie Adubato, who will serve as interim coach for the remainder of the season.