Sportsday - Germany v France build-up & transfer gossip

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Middlesex pace bowler Toby Roland-Jones says he did not expect to receive a call up to the England squad.

Earlier, Roland-Jones was a surprise inclusion the team to play the first Test against Pakistan at Lord's.

Speaking on Sky Sports News, the 28-year-old added: "I didn't have it on my radar in the slightest. Without sounding too cliche it was an amazing surprise to have, I'll never forget it."

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So, a third stage win on this year's Tour for Mark Cavendish and a 29th overall, takes him to outright second in the most stage wins in Tour history. 

The Manxman is now one clear of Frenchman Bernard Hinault and five behind five-time Tour winner Eddy Merckx of Belgium. 

Click here for all the reaction.

The last time Germany played a host nation in a major tournament, they produced a result that shocked the world.

Surely it won't be more of the same tonight?

Brazil's Sports Minister Leonardo Picciani has reportedly told journalists that 30% of the total tickets made available for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games remain unsold.

Around seven and a half million tickets went on sale last March; but the quoted figure means around two and a quarter million remain on sale with just 29 days to go until the Olympics begin.

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A player who threatened to urinate in a ball can on court at Wimbledon, then staged a sit-in protest during a match, has been fined almost £7,000.

Uruguay's Pablo Cuevas was punished for unsportsmanlike conduct after the two incidents in a doubles game. Partner Marcel Granollers was fined £5,800 for his part in the protest.

Tottenham Hotspur will decline an invitation to take part in the 2016-17 EFL Trophy, report Press Association Sport.

Spurs were one of 16 clubs with Category One Academies which the EFL had invited to take part.

Formerly known as the Football League Trophy, the competition will continue to involve clubs from League One and League Two.

France boss Didier Deschamps has got some big decisions to make about who he is going to play in the Euro 2016 semi-final against Germany and how he is going to approach the match.

It is no coincidence that Antoine Griezmann played so well in their 5-2 quarter-final win over Iceland because he was in his favoured position, behind the striker, rather than out wide on the right.

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But to play Griezmann in the number 10 role, Deschamps will have to stick with the 4-2-3-1 formation he used against Iceland - rather than the 4-3-3 he had favoured previously in this tournament.

To do that, he will have to leave out one of his holding midfielders - N'Golo Kante, who was suspended last time out, Paul Pogba or Blaise Matuidi.

The peloton are up and over the last climb and in hot pursuit of leaders Jan Barta and  Yukiya Arashiro. You can also keep up to date with what's happening here. 

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton has been speaking for the first time since he and team-mate Nico Rosberg were warned they could be punished if they crash together again.

During Sunday's Austrian Grand Prix, the pair collided while fighting for the lead on the final lap.

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Speaking at Silverstone ahead of the British Grand Prix this weekend Hamilton said: "We're not going to change anything. No team orders, which is good for fans,"

Asked if he 'fully understood' the potential consequences of another incident with Rosberg, he added: "I guess I should say yes."

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Wales' display at Euro 2016 taught me...

Daniel Osunbor: Cristiano Ronaldo can last longer in the air than England in any tournament.

Bilal Parvez: That you can do great things in life if you believe.

Daniele Accurso: Wales display has told me Leicester's title winning season is not a fluke. Hard work, passion and desire do beat talent in the end.

Wales may be out of Euro 2016, but the competition continues with 2014 World Cup winners Germany taking on host nation France in Marseille.

Manchester United midfielder Bastian Schweinsteigerloves a pre-match tweet and he had this to say ahead of the second semi-final...

Wales' display at Euro 2016 taught me...

Steven Bletsoe: Gareth Bale is the super star but Aaron Ramsey is the engine that makes Wales tick.

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Two of Crystal Palace's three summer signings have been included in the squad for the three game tour of the USA and Canada next week.

Andros Townsend and James Tomkins are part of a 23-man squad while Mile Jedinak, Yannick Bolasie and Pape Souare head across the Atlantic following the Eagles’ opener against Philadelphia next Wednesday, having been given extra time off following their international excursions this summer.

Germany changed their shape to play Italy, going with three centre-halves to match the Italians' formation.

I would imagine they will go back to playing four across the back in Marseille, because the French play that way and Germany prefer it anyway.

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But, up front, Mario Gomez is a big miss. They have definitely been better at this tournament when he has been on the pitch because he is a physical presence and a focal point for them.

Gomez is a big powerful striker and, when he plays, they do not have to play their way through - they can knock balls up to him and he can feed their runners into the box.