Wednesdays training session; with the teams medical staff quickly applying ice and bandaging it.Evra, who was not wearing the bandage when he attended a news conference on Thursday, was in a light-hearted mood when a reporter asked about his injury.Thanks for asking about me, th

LONDON -- Angelique Kerber scrapped and scrambled and pushed Serena Williams to the limit.The German hustled from corner to corner for great gets, crouched low for squat shots, and mixed off-speed slices with searing flat winners.In the end, Kerbers stellar counter-punching defense was not enough to defuse the power game and booming serves of Williams, who prevailed 7-5, 6-3 in the Wimbledon final on Saturday.Kerber beat Williams in three sets in the Australian Open final in January for her first Grand Slam title. But, this time, there was no stopping Williams from equaling Steffi Grafs Open-era record of 22 major championships.I think I played what I could today, the fourth-seeded Kerber said. Serena was serving unbelievable today. At the end I was trying everything, but she deserved it today. I was not the one who lost the match. I think she won the match.The left-handed Kerber had not dropped a set on the way to her second Grand Slam final of the year and beat Serenas sister, five-time champion Venus, in the semifinals. The 28-year-old Kerber was bidding to become the first player to beat the sisters back-to-back in the semifinals and final at a Grand Slam.But Serena had too much firepower: She served 13 aces, to none for Kerber. The German had only nine unforced errors, to go with 12 winners. But Williams piled up 39 winners, along with 21 unforced errors.Today just her serve was much better, Kerber said. On grass the serve is also a little bit strange because its tougher to return it. That was the only thing which changed from Australia.Kerber came out fighting from the start, trading hard groundstrokes with Williams, mixing up her play and holding serve. But a brief lapse in the 12th game proved costly. Serving at 6-5 down, 15-all, Kerber made a forehand error followed by a backhand error to suddenly give Williams two break and set points.Kerber saved the first with an easy forehand, but Williams converted on the next with a cross-court backhand winner to take the first set.I think I was still playing not bad, Kerber said. I think Serena was returning better there. She was just going for it. I played two points a little bit too short, and she was there, and she goes for it. She did everything right.Kerber didnt fold. She picked up her game in the second set, pumping her arms to celebrate winners as the Centre Court crowd tried to will her back into the match.Kerber finally earned a break point -- her only one of the match -- at 3-3. At 30-40, Williams turned to her biggest weapon: She hit a 117 mph ace to save the break point, followed with a 124 mph ace and held for 4-3.This is how Serena is playing, Kerber said. I had one breakpoint, and I couldnt do (anything).In the next game, Kerber went up 40-15 but Williams began attacking and forced a break point. Kerber hit perhaps her worst shot of the match -- a backhand long -- to concede the break. Williams served out the match at love.Of course, Im disappointed, Kerber said. But at the end Im also proud about that what I did. That makes it a little easier for me.Kerber will move up to No. 2 in the rankings next week behind Williams, who has been No. 1 since February 2013.I think its tough to follow in her footsteps, Kerber said. Im going my own way. I think Im on a good way to play better and better. I hope that I will reach a few more finals and maybe win a few more Grand Slams.---Follow Stephen Wilson on Twitter: www.twitter.com/stevewilsonap. His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/stephen-wilson Site Nike Air Force 1 Pas Cher . Once again Jordan Cieciwa (@FitCityJordan) and I (@LynchOnSports) go head to head in our picks. Last weekend at UFC Fight Night 32 my #TeamLynch got the best of #TeamJC by a score of 9-6. Let us know which side youre on for UFC 167 use the hashtag #TeamLynch or #TeamJC on Twitter. Air Force 1 Soldes .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. http://www.siteairforce1pascher.fr/air-force-1-low-soldes/basket-basse-noir.html . -- Running backs Darren McFadden and Rashad Jennings were back at practice for the Oakland Raiders on Wednesday despite being hampered by hamstring injuries. Air Force 1 Basse Pas Cher . The home side created most of the chances but struggled to break down Braunschweigs resilient defence, resulting in the Bundesligas 1,000th scoreless draw. Air Force 1 Basse Homme . Just not the game. Kyle Palmieri scored two straight goals in the third period to rally the Anaheim Ducks past the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 on Tuesday night. PARIS -- The Latest from soccers European Championship (all times local):---11:50 p.m.Portugal has qualified for the semifinals of Euro 2016 after beating Poland 5-3 in a penalty shootout.Ricardo Quaresma scored the winning penalty moments after Portugal goalkeeper Rui Patricio dived to his left to save Jakub Blaszczykowskis spot kick.The match in Marseille finished 1-1 after an additional half hour of extra time.Poland went ahead in the second minute when Robert Lewandowski scored his first goal at Euro 2016 in the teams fifth match. Poland had chances to double its lead before 18-year-old Renato Sanches equalized for Portugal in the 33rd minute.Portugal will play either Belgium or Wales in Lyon on July 6.---11:45 p.m.Portugal has qualified for the semifinals of Euro 2016 after beating Poland 5-3 in a penalty shootout after the two teams were tied at 1-1 after extra time.Ricardo Quaresma scored the winning penalty moments after Jakub Blaszczykowskis spot kick was saved by a diving Rui Patricio.---11:43 p.m.Portugal qualifies for the semifinals after beating Poland 5-3 in a penalty shootout. Ricardo Quaresma scored the winning penalty.---11:31 p.m.The quarterfinal match between Poland and Portugal will be decided in a penalty shootout after the teams were tied at 1-1 after extra time.---11:22 p.m.A fan ran onto the pitch in the second period of extra time in the quarterfinal match between Portugal and Poland with the scores level at 1-1. Several stewards chased the man who almost reached the halfway line before slipping. He was overpowered and taken away.Shortly after the one-man pitch invasion, a line of riot police took up positions behind Polands goal line.---11:13 p.m.The quarterfinal match between Poland and Portugal is level at 1-1 at the end of the first period of extra time. Should the score remain level at the end of extra time, the match will be decided by a penalty shootout.---10:52 p.m.Poland and Portugal are heading to extra time after their quarterfinal match in Marseille ended 90 minutes tied at 1-1.After a fairly open first half, the match became more cagey in the second.Cristiano Ronaldo had a great opportunity to put Portugal through to the semifinals late on when he evaded the offside trap following a looping pass from Joao Moutinho. Ronaldo failed to connect with the ball when one-on-one with Poland goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski.Poland went ahead in the second minute when Robert Lewandowski scored his first goal at Euro 2016 in the teams fifth match. Poland had chances to double its lead before 18-year-old Renato Sanches equalized for Portugal in the 33rd minute.If the score remains level after the additional 30 minutes, the match will be decided in a penalty shootout.---9:48 p.m.Portugal and Poland are level 1-1 at halftime in their quarterfinal match in Marseille.Poland went ahead as soon as the 2nd minute when Robert Lewandowski scored his first goal at Euro 2016 in the teams fifth match. Lewandowski drove in a cross from Kamil Grosicki, after he broke down the left flank following a defensive error by Cedric Soares.Poland had chances to double its lead before 18-year-old Renato Sanches equalized for Portugal in the 33rd minute. In his first start at the competition, Sanches collecting a back-heel from Nani and fired in a left-footed shot from the just outside the penalty area that deflected off Grzegorz Krychowiak.---9:37 p.m.In his first start at Euro 2016, 18-year-old Renato Sanches has pulled Portugal level against Poland at 1-1, collecting a back-heel from Nani and firing in a 33rd minute shot that deflected off Grzegorz Krychowiak.---9:35 p.m.GOAL: Renato Sanches scores for Portugal in the 33rd minute. Poland and Portugal are tied at 1-1.---9:07 p.m.Robert Lewandowski fired in a low cross from Kamil Grosicki to score his first goal at Euro 2016 in his teams fifth match. Grosicki broke down the left flank before providing the assist for Lewandowski.---9:04 p.m.GOAL: Robert Lewandowski scores for Poland in the 2nd minute. Poland leads Portugal 1-0.---8:10 p.m.Portugals 18-year-old midfielder Renato Sanches is making his first start of the European Championship in the quarterfinal against Poland.Sanches, a Bayern Munich recruit who has made three appearances in France as a substitute, takes the place of Andre Gomes, who is injured.Eliseu is starting for injured left-back Raphael Guerreiro.Poland manager Adam Nawalka has stuck with the same starting 11 from its round-of-16 win over Switzerland in a penalty shootout.---8:05 p.m.Here are the lineups for the quarterfinal between Poland and Portugal in Marseille:Poland: Lukasz Fabianski, Lukasz Piszczek, Kamil Glik, Michal Pazdan, Artur Jedrzejczyk, Jakub Blaszczykowski, Grzegoorz Krychowiak, Krzysztof Maczynski, Kamil Grosicki, Arkadiusz Milik, Robert Lewandowski.dddddddddddd.Portugal: Rui Patricio, Cedric, Pepe, Jose Fonte, Eliseu, Joao Mario, Renato Sanches, William Carvalho, Adrien Silva, Nani, Cristiano Ronaldo.---7:10 p.m.Belgium defender Jan Vertonghen has been ruled out of the rest of the tournament after twisting his ankle in training, a day before his teams quarterfinal game against Wales.Belgium coach Marc Wilmots says the Tottenham defender tore ligaments and will likely be out for six to eight weeks.Its a sporting tragedy for him. Mentally and physically he was completely fit, Wilmots says.The absence of his most-capped player (83 games) increases Wilmots defensive worries ahead of the Wales game.With regulars Vincent Kompany and Nicolas Lombaerts not at the tournament due to injury and Thomas Vermaelen sitting out a suspension, Wilmots will have to rely on a less-experienced replacement. Jordan Lukaku (four caps), Jason Denayer (seven) or Thomas Meunier (eight) could play.Wales coach Chris Coleman says Vertonghens injury means a big loss to Belgium but added theyve got so much talent in order to find suitable replacements.---6:25 p.m.UEFA says all 1,818 doping test taken from European Championship players have so far tested negative.UEFA says 354 samples collected at matches added to the 1,464 that were taken out-of-competition since Jan. 1.Results from testing the blood, urine and serum samples will be used for individual players biological passports to monitor possible effects of doping over time.UEFA says it plans long-term storage of samples taken from Euro 2016 and the Champions League and Europa League for possible re-testing due to intelligence received or new analytical techniques becoming available.---6:20 p.m.UEFA says there will be a moment of applause ahead of the European Championship quarterfinal between Poland and Portugal in honor of the victims of Tuesdays attacks at an airport in Istanbul.Suspected militants from the Islamic State group attacked the airport with guns and bombs. At least 44 people have died as a result.UEFA says Thursdays tribute is in memory of the victims of Tuesdays terrorist attack in Istanbul and other attacks which have occurred during the tournament.There was a similar tribute in Marseille ahead of a group stage game between France and Albania in memory of two French police officers who were killed at their home.---2:20 p.m.Germany coach Joachim Loew has a full squad to pick from for Saturdays quarterfinal against Italy in Bordeaux after left back Jonas Hector overcame a cold to take part in training.Oliver Bierhoff, part of Germanys winning Euro 1996 team and who is now part of Loews backroom staff, said the situation is very positive and that Jonas trained too.Germany is aiming to beat Italy at a major tournament for the first time.Bierhoff said Antonio Contes side is definitely the hardest opponent we could meet, not because we always had difficulties against them historically, but because this team is really well organized, concentrated, and has shown itself to be strong in the games so far.Italy has impressed with 2-0 wins over Belgium and two-time defending champions Spain.It will be a tough battle, Bierhoff said at the sides tournament base in Evian-les-Bains. Theres huge respect for the Italian team, but no fear.---1:45 p.m.France left back Patrice Evra has made light of the minor hand injury he sustained in training.The 35-year-old Evra hurt his left hand when he fell following a collision with midfielder Moussa Sissoko late in Wednesdays training session; with the teams medical staff quickly applying ice and bandaging it.Evra, who was not wearing the bandage when he attended a news conference on Thursday, was in a light-hearted mood when a reporter asked about his injury.Thanks for asking about me, thats so nice; it touches my heart, Evra said, then added jokingly. Ive only twisted all four fingers, but other than that Im fine.Evra is expected to start against Iceland in the quarterfinal at Stade de France on Sunday.---11:10 a.m.Belgium captain Eden Hazard has returned to training ahead of the teams European Championship quarterfinal match against Wales.Hazard missed practice sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday because of a thigh problem. He trained early Thursday at the teams base in Bordeaux, before the Belgians scheduled departure to the northern city of Lille where Fridays match against Wales is staged.The Chelsea winger is Belgiums most dangerous attacking player and starred in the 4-0 victory over Hungary in the round of 16. ' ' '