The Morning Sports Briefing

Soccer

Portugal last night ended Wales’s European Championship dreams with a 2-0 semi-final win that puts Cristiano Ronaldo’s team into Sunday’s decider, against either France or Germany. Who meet in tonight’s other semi-final.

Billed pre-match as a clash of the Galacticos, Ronaldo versus Gareth Bale - it was Ronaldo who headed home the first and set up the second to secure victory in Lyon.

Wimbledon

Gritty play saw Andy Murray and Roger Federer progress to the last four of the mens' draw at Wimbledon yesterday. Federer came back from two sets down and saved three match points to beat Marin Cilic in an absorbing contest. Before Murray edged past Jo Wilfried Tsonga - winning the decisive fifth set 6-1.

Golf

Shane Lowry is one of six Irish men in action at this week’s Scottish Open - beginning today. Writing in his fortnightly column he says that Castle Stuart will be the ideal test with a firm eye on the British Open. Which follows next week.

"Even for me it's not as straightforward as you'd imagine in switching back to links. The wind plays a lot heavier than in the US, and you've got to play with feel."

Athletics

The courageous Fionnuala McCormack was edged out again at the European Championships yesterday - the Wicklow athlete having to settle for fourth in the only track final of the day. "They say the only feeling worse than finishing fourth at a major championship is finishing fourth again."

Meanwhile in her column this morning Sonia O'Sullivan feels athletes could take a leaf out of Rory McIlroy's book - it's the mark of a great champion to be able to make a decision and put themselves first. "Individuality must shine through, and you must be able to go against the grain, do everything possible to maintain the routine, and structure, that has got you here. It means being brave and thinking about yourself and what is best for you, and you don't always need social media to show that."

Cycling

In yesterday's Tour de France Greg Van Avermaet took stage five and the yellow jersey with a comfortable victory. Today's sixth stage is a mostly flat 190.5km ride between Arpajon sur Cere and Montauban.

What to watch out for

Lowry, Padraig Harrington, Michael Hoey, Graeme McDowell, Paul Dunne and Paul McGinley all feature in the Inverness Scottish Open this week.

Sky Sports 4, 10.30am-6.30pm

It's semi-finals day for the Ladies at Wimbledon. Venus and Serena Williams are on either side of the draw.

BBC 2, 12.30pm-9pm

BBC 1, 1.45pm-6pm

Stage Six of Le Tour - To Montauban

TG4, 1.10pm-4.40pm

France versus Germany kicks-off at 8pm.

RTE 2 from 7.05pm