The Morning Sports Briefing

Soccer

France and Portugal will face-off in Sunday’s Euro 2016 final - after the French hosts defeated World Champions Germany in Marseille last night.

Antoine Griezmann was the hero with two goals, one in either half, as Germany's mass possession failed to prize an opening over the 90 minutes. Emmet Malone watched the game from the Paris fanzone where 'joie de vie' was restored - 'In 1998 people were freer in their minds but now nobody knows for sure that a bomb won't go off'.

In the Europa League qualifiers last night Cork City's 1-1 home draw was enough to see them through their All-Ireland first round tie with Linfield. Shamrock Rovers though bow out, their 1-1 draw in Finland wasn't enough, as RoPS advance 3-1 on aggregate.

Golf

Pádraig Harrington and Graeme McDowell are both just one shot off the lead in the Scottish Open after a tough first round at Castle Stuart. On a day when winds gusting up to 40mph sent scores soaring, the duo carded first rounds of two-under 70 to lie a shot off the lead held by Australia's Scott Hend and Chile's Felipe Aguilar.

The other Irish golfers in the field were all over par, with Michael Hoey on two over, while Shane Lowry and Paul McGinley both posted five-over 77s. Paul Dunne also struggled and was one shot further back after a 78.

Wimbledon

Serena Williams needed only 48 minutes to book her place in the Wimbledon decider against her Australian Open conqueror Angelique Kerber.

The latter denied Serena a family-final after beating Venus 6-4 6-4 in yesterday’s other semi-final. While Serena’s win over Elena Vesnina was the fastest semi-final since 1999 and before that 1939. Today it’s the Mens’ semi-finals - as Roger Federer meets Milos Raonic and Andy Murray faces Tomas Berdych.

Johnny Watterson reports from Wimbledon - "Raonic can beat Federer and has done so twice in 11 meetings, and Berdych can take Murray, as he has done six times in 14 meetings. But what will push two players though to Sunday's final is mental brawn, stress-hardened thinking."

Le Tour de France

Mark Cavendish moved into second place all-time for Tour de France stage wins yesterday, as he collected his 29th victory on stage six in Montauban. BMC's Greg Van Avermaet finished safely in the pack to retain the yellow jersey he took on Wednesday. While Ireland's Dan Martin remains in 10th position overall after he was placed in 33rd position during the closing sprint.

GAA

Meanwhile in his hurling column this morning John Allen feels Waterford have the motivation to topple Tipperary in Sunday's Munster final. "Waterford are psychologically in a stronger position than last year. Tipperary possess the squad to be rated as potential candidates to wear Kilkenny's crown this year. Both teams have impressed in different ways this season."

What to watch out for

The second round of the Scottish Open.

Sky Sports 4, 10.30am-6.30pm

The last four of the Mens' competition at Wimbledon.

BBC 2, 12.30pm-9pm

BBC 1, 1.45pm-6pm

Eir Sport, 11.30am-8pm

Le Tour Stage 7: To Lac de Payolle

TG4, 1.10pm-4.40pm

In the Airtricity League tonight Bohemians face Bray (7.45pm) as Finn Harps take on Galway (8pm).