ud of the team we were able to get it out in three sets.China will face the upstart Netherlands women, who beat South Korea in four sets. The Dutch are in their first Olympics in 20 years and went 4-1 in group play behind the Americans.Japan, one of the top defensive teams in the world, had a 7-0 run

PARIS -- The Latest from the European Championship (all times local):---9.10 p.m.Two Russia players have been fined by their clubs over an ostentatious party following the national teams group stage exit from the European Championship.Video posted online appeared to show forward Alexander Kokorin and midfielder Pavel Mamaev in a nightclub, with waiters carrying dozens of bottles of champagne, as the Russian anthem played.Fans commenting online said the party was inappropriate after Russias poor performance at Euro 2016.Kokorins club Zenit St. Petersburg and Mamaevs team FC Krasnodar said in statements that the players would be fined and sent to train with the clubs youth squads.Kokorin tells Russias Tass agency that he didnt order the champagne, and that he and Mamaev were simply present at someone elses birthday celebrations.---8.35 p.m.Portugal coach Fernando Santos says his team will make a match-day decision as to whether central defender Pepe is fit to play against Wales in Wednesdays semifinal.Santos says we will make our decision tomorrow. I wont be rushed into it, so I am sure you will be rolling in your beds tonight unable to sleep.A thigh muscle problem kept Pepe out of training on Monday. He then trained separately from his teammates on Tuesday before Santos addressed the media at the Stade de Lyon.Pepe has played every minute of Portugals five matches at Euro 2016.His absence would be a huge blow to Portugal when it faces a Wales side led by Gareth Bale.---4:20 p.m.Former Wales manager Gary Speed, who was found hanged in his home in 2011, is at the forefront of the Welsh squads minds going into the semifinal against Portugal on Wednesday.Wales captain Ashley Williams says he was thinking about him (Speed) on the plane and my thought is Id hope and think hed be proud of us.Speed played 85 games for Wales -- the majority of them as captain -- and then took over as coach of his country in 2010. He led for Wales for 10 games before he died.Speaking with Williams on Tuesday at the pre-match news conference in Lyon, Wales coach Chris Coleman -- who was a close friend of Speed -- said Speedo is not a Welsh, but a sporting icon. I dont need a game of football to remember Speed. I think about him every day.---3:55 p.m.Germany team manager Oliver Bierhoff is siding with UEFA about keeping players children away from the pitch after games at Euro 2016.While Wales players have been kidding around with their children, UEFA made it clear on Tuesday that a toddlers place is not on a football pitch at Euro 2016.Bierhoff is on the same wavelength, saying: For me its a bit too much at times. I think the notion that you take to the pitch as a team and stay as a team is not wrong. The circle (of team associates) is always getting bigger and it reaches a stage where you cant miss it. From that point of view, I can understand such a decision or suggestion from UEFA.---2:40 p.m.Two problem pitches at the European Championship should be in better shape for their last matches, says UEFAs tournament director.At Stade de France, which hosts the final on Sunday, and in Marseille, where France plays Germany in a semifinal on Thursday, playing surfaces have been criticized.Both venues host concerts and other events, and soaked up heavy rainfall during Euro 2016.UEFA official Martin Kallen says the Marseille turf -- which was relaid in mid-May -- should now be the best it has been.France coach Didier Deschamps was unhappy with the quality after a group-stage game against Albania.Kallen says the Stade de France pitch was much better for Frances 5-2 win over Iceland on Sunday.On Sunday, it will not be excellent ... but it will be good for the finalists, Kallen says.Currently, UEFA wants teams to train on the stadium one day before each match but will look at changes for Euro 2020.Kallen says: We have to have pitches in top condition.---2:30 p.m.Portugal defender Pepe has trained separately from his teammates, the day before their European Championship semifinal match against Wales.Pepe missed training on Monday because of a muscle problem in his thigh.The Real Madrid defender has played every minute of Portugals five matches at Euro 2016.He has proven to be a key piece of Fernando Santos side and his absence for the game at the Stade de Lyon on Wednesday would be a huge blow.---1:45 p.m.UEFAs tournament director says he is very satisfied with security operations at the European Championship ahead of the last three matches.Martin Kallen says the security risk level is still the same as at the beginning (of the tournament) but there were no issues.Stade de France, which will host the final on Sunday, was a target on Nov. 13 during a France-Germany match when deadly attacks around Paris killed 130 people.At previous games, French authorities who are responsible for security removed suspect packages and conducted a controlled explosion on a car parked near the stadium.Kallen says at a briefing that this was until now always a false alarm.The UEFA official says: We have worked very well together with the French authorities.---11:50 a.m.UEFA says it is cute but not safe for players children to join in post-match celebrations at the European Championship.The scenes of toddlers in full Wales kit joining their dads on the pitch after another Euro 2016 win has added to the surprise semifinalists feel-good story.However, UEFA has asked for no more on-field family scenes when Wales plays Portugal in Lyon on Wednesday.UEFAs tournament director Martin Kallen says: It is a European Championship not a family party.Kallen says a stadium is not the most safe place for small kids if fans invaded the field, and with stadium staff operating machinery on the playing surface.The UEFA official said: It is nice pictures. 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Giroud, who wasnt in the starting lineup for two matches after allegations about his private life and a decline in form, scored twice in the first half. Tomas Rosickys chip made it 3-0 before half time at Emirates Stadium, while defender Laurent Koscielny scored an unmarked header in the second half.RIO DE JANEIRO -- Faces buried in hands and tears falling, the Brazilian womens volleyball team lost to China in a five-set quarterfinal match on Tuesday.It was another heartbreaking defeat for the home country only hours after the Brazilian womens soccer team fell in a penalty shootout to Sweden next door at the Maracana Stadium.China rallied from losing the first set to stun the two time-defending champion Brazilians 15-13 in the decisive fifth.As China celebrated the biggest upset yet and quieted a stunned crowd, Brazil captain Fabiana pulled her team together in a huddle. While Fabianas kill saved one match point to make it 14-13 in the third, Brazil had a pair of costly service errors late.Brazil had been the heavy favorite to face the United States in a potential gold-medal match after beating the Americans in the championship match in each of the past two Olympics.Meanwhile, a young China team that had been far from steady at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics played its best, most consistent match yet.For an American team that knows Japan so well, patience was an absolute must. Against the best defensive team in the world, balls are going to come back across the net.Karch Kiralys top-ranked Americans moved one step closer to its goal of capturing the programs first volleyball gold, defeating familiar opponent Japan in straight sets to reach the semifinals.Before we go into any match with Japan we have to know we need to have a lot of patience, outside hitter Kim Hill said.The unbeaten U.S. (6-0) won 25-16, 25-23, 25-22 and has dropped just five sets all tournament. The Americans will face Serbia, a straight-set winner over Russia, in Thursdays semifinals at MMaracanazinho arena.ddddddddddddOur approach is the same every time, so that didnt even really feel like an Olympic quarterfinal match, Kiraly said. Thats good. Were just playing volleyball against Japan.The U.S. has faced Japan more times than any other team since 1983. The Americans have won the last three meetings on the Olympic stage against Japan, opening the 2008 Beijing Games with a four-set victory and sweeping Japan in a match at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.They have a lot of fight in them, so it took a lot of patience on our end, and regrouping and resetting, middle blocker Foluke Akinradewo said. I was proud of the team we were able to get it out in three sets.China will face the upstart Netherlands women, who beat South Korea in four sets. The Dutch are in their first Olympics in 20 years and went 4-1 in group play behind the Americans.Japan, one of the top defensive teams in the world, had a 7-0 run in the third set before the Americans closed it out. Now, the U.S. is two wins from gold.I dont have any expectations. Others may have them, but I dont, said Kiraly, the only person to win gold as a player in beach and indoor volleyball and looking to become the first as a coach and player.Serbia lost in four sets to the U.S. during pool play but pulled off a surprising five-set victory at last years World Cup in Japan that forced the Americans to qualify for Rio in Lincoln, Nebraska, in January.The most important thing is to keep smiling on the court and stay relaxed, and anybody can be beaten, Serbias Jovana Stevanovic said. ' ' '