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.”



China’s Huang and Sheng Win First Gold of Paris Games at Air Rifle Mixed Team Event

 China's Huang Yuting and Sheng Lihao pose on the podium after winning the gold of the shooting 10m air rifle mixed team during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Chateauroux Shooting Centre on July 27, 2024. (AFP)
China's Huang Yuting and Sheng Lihao pose on the podium after winning the gold of the shooting 10m air rifle mixed team during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Chateauroux Shooting Centre on July 27, 2024. (AFP)
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China’s Huang and Sheng Win First Gold of Paris Games at Air Rifle Mixed Team Event

 China's Huang Yuting and Sheng Lihao pose on the podium after winning the gold of the shooting 10m air rifle mixed team during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Chateauroux Shooting Centre on July 27, 2024. (AFP)
China's Huang Yuting and Sheng Lihao pose on the podium after winning the gold of the shooting 10m air rifle mixed team during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Chateauroux Shooting Centre on July 27, 2024. (AFP)

China's Huang Yuting and Sheng Lihao won the first gold medal of the Paris Games on Saturday in the 10 meters air rifle mixed team event.

Keum Ji-hyeon and Park Ha-jun of South Korea claimed silver and Alexandra Le and Islam Satpayev of Kazakhstan were awarded bronze.

Three years after Yang Qian and Yang Haoran won the gold in Tokyo, compatriots Huang and Sheng made sure China retained it.

The reigning world champions topped the qualifying round ahead of their Korean rivals at the Chateauroux Shooting Centre.

The gold medal round was not really a cakewalk though despite them racing to a 14-8 lead after the first 11 shots.

Keum and Park staged a late comeback to reduce the gap at 14-12 but the Chinese pair prevailed 16-12 in the end.

Le and Satpayev gave Kazakhstan their first medal of the Paris Games with a 17-5 romp against the German pair of Anna Janssen and Maximilian Ulbrich.