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INDIANAPOLIS - Larry Bird ended the speculation about Frank Vogels job security before it could even begin. Hes safe.On Wednesday, the Pacers president of basketball operations announced Vogel had signed a multiyear contract extension. Terms were not disclosed and players and coaches were unavailable because they had a scheduled day off. The 41-year-old Vogel is expected to take questions Thursday.The move comes exactly three weeks before Indianas regular-season opener against Philadelphia and eliminates a potential distraction since Vogel was entering the final year of his deal with the Pacers.Were very happy to extend Franks contract, Bird said in a statement issued by the team. I believe he has done a great job and I look forward to continuing our relationship and working together to achieve all of our goals.A year ago, winning the citys first NBA title seemed like an achievable feat. Bird acknowledged before training camp that the Pacers were going all in to make a championship run. Vogels players responded with a 33-8 start that gave Vogel his first chance to coach the Eastern Conference All-Stars.Little has gone right since then for the Pacers and Vogel, who has a 147-82 career record.The Pacers stumbled in the second half of the season, finishing 23-18 amid squabbling teammates and questions about whether Indiana had the right mix of players -- or even the right coach. That didnt stop during first- and second-round playoff series against Atlanta and Washington. Indiana wound up advancing to the conference finals and losing again to the Miami Heat.In early June, Bird defended his coach and denied there was any consideration of getting rid of Vogel.The day it (the report) happened, I went down to Frank and all of his assistants and said, I want you back next year, and that was the end of it for us, Bird said at a season-ending news conference.But things got worse during the off-season.In July, Lance Stephenson left for Charlotte in free agency, and in early August, two-time All-Star Paul George broke his right leg when he ran into a basketball stanchion during a national team scrimmage in Las Vegas. Stephensons decision and Georges injury, which is likely season-ending, left Vogel without his two best scorers.While many outsiders and some players have acknowledged Indiana needs to scale back its goals this season, Vogel has insisted the Pacers can win.The message to my team is that we have to bring a high level of competitiveness every night. We have to bring it every night, Vogel said last week during the Pacers media day. We have enough talent here to be competitive and compete with the best.Vogel got his big break in January 2011, succeeding the fired Jim OBrien as the Pacers interim coach. He turned around a team that looked like it would miss the playoffs for a fifth consecutive year, finishing 20-18 and leading it into the post-season for the first time since 2006. Vogel then got the coaching job full-time.In 2012, Vogel led the Pacers to their first playoff series win since Reggie Miller retired seven years earlier, and then to back-to-back conference finals appearances.So with the Pacers facing perhaps their most daunting challenge in years, Bird rewarded Vogel by eliminating by one more potential distraction -- his future.Im excited for the opportunity to continue my tenure as Pacers coach, Vogel said in the statement. Its an honour to represent this franchise and lead this team. 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Austin Dean Jersey . -- Once again, Carlos Santana was a huge hit in Kansas City.Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson is with you every step of the way as he tries to predict who will be crowned European Champions. We are reaching the end of the first round of group games with just two more fixtures to go in the opening phase of matches.Austria will play Hungary first before Portugal and Iceland round off the initial set of sectional fixtures. Sky Sports Euro 2016 predictor Make your predictions with our interactive wall chart here. Who will make it all the way to the Stade de France on July 10? The Magic Man gives his predictions on Tuesdays two games.Austria v Hungary - 5pm, TuesdayI fancied Austrias chances heading into the tournament until Holland rinsed them in one of their warm-up games. Not sure if theyve got what it takes to cause a real upset, but I expect them to get off to a winning start.PAUL PREDICTS: 1-0 to Austria (Sky Bet odds 4/1) Can Marko Arnautovic, David Alaba and Christian Fuchs get Austrias Euro 2016 campaign off to a winning start? Portugal v Iceland - 8pm, TuesdayCristiano Ronaldo is the X Factor in this game and the fact Eidur Gudjohnsen is still playing for Iceland tells you all you need to know.dddddddddddd Portugal were very comfortable against England at Wembley and if Ronaldo had played in that game they would have won.PAUL PREDICTS: 2-0 to Portugal (Sky Bet odds 5/1)Stay tuned to skysports.com and the Sky Sports apps for more Euro 2016 predictions from Merse... Also See: All-time Euro best XI Smalling shrugs off injury scare Ronaldo fit a firing Wales security is perfect ' ' '