Germany Coach Nagelsmann Extends Contract Through 2026 World Cup, Leaves Bayern Still Searching 

Germany's head coach Julian Nagelsmann gives a press conference at the Groupama Stadium in Decines-Charpieu, near Lyon, on March 22, 2024, on the eve of the friendly football match between France and Germany. (AFP)
Germany's head coach Julian Nagelsmann gives a press conference at the Groupama Stadium in Decines-Charpieu, near Lyon, on March 22, 2024, on the eve of the friendly football match between France and Germany. (AFP)
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Germany Coach Nagelsmann Extends Contract Through 2026 World Cup, Leaves Bayern Still Searching 

Germany's head coach Julian Nagelsmann gives a press conference at the Groupama Stadium in Decines-Charpieu, near Lyon, on March 22, 2024, on the eve of the friendly football match between France and Germany. (AFP)
Germany's head coach Julian Nagelsmann gives a press conference at the Groupama Stadium in Decines-Charpieu, near Lyon, on March 22, 2024, on the eve of the friendly football match between France and Germany. (AFP)

Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann has extended his contract by two years, taking him beyond the upcoming European Championship and through the 2026 World Cup.

It also ends the possibility of Nagelsmann returning to Bayern Munich, which is looking for a new coach for next season after deciding to part ways with Thomas Tuchel at the end of this season. Nagelsmann was the reported favorite following Xabi Alonso’s decision to stay with Bayer Leverkusen, but now Bayern will need to look elsewhere after two high-profile rejections.

The German soccer federation announced Friday that its supervisory board and shareholders decided unanimously to keep Nagelsmann in charge of the national team after Euro 2024, which Germany is hosting.

“He's on the wish list of many big clubs across Europe,” federation president Bernd Neuendorf said of Nagelsmann.

The 36-year-old Nagelsmann has overseen a change in mood in Germany after wins over France and the Netherlands following a shakeup of the team last month.

Bayern fired Nagelsmann in favor of Tuchel in March 2023. Bayern went on to win the Bundesliga.

This season, Bayern failed to win the title for the first time since 2012 after Bayer Leverkusen won last weekend.

Nagelsmann said staying with Germany was “a decision of the heart. It’s a great honor to be able to train the national team and work with the best players in the country.”



Olympic Cauldron to Rise into Paris Skies Each Night

 Paris 2024 Olympics - Paris, France - July 27, 2024. A general view of the balloon and Olympic cauldron in Jardin des Tuileries. (Reuters)
Paris 2024 Olympics - Paris, France - July 27, 2024. A general view of the balloon and Olympic cauldron in Jardin des Tuileries. (Reuters)
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Olympic Cauldron to Rise into Paris Skies Each Night

 Paris 2024 Olympics - Paris, France - July 27, 2024. A general view of the balloon and Olympic cauldron in Jardin des Tuileries. (Reuters)
Paris 2024 Olympics - Paris, France - July 27, 2024. A general view of the balloon and Olympic cauldron in Jardin des Tuileries. (Reuters)

The Olympic cauldron that made a stunning first flight at the Paris Games opening ceremony will sit on the ground during the day and rise again every evening.

Paris Olympics organizers said that from Saturday, the cauldron attached to a balloon will fly more than 60 meters (197 feet) above the Tuileries gardens near the glass pyramid entrance to the Louvre museum from sunset until 2 a.m.

During daytime hours, 10,000 people each day can get free tickets to approach the cauldron, which is the first in Olympic history to light up without the use of fossil fuels.

Organizers said the electric flame uses 40 LED spotlights “to illuminate the cloud created by 200 high-pressure misting nozzles.”