Sports

Merkel plans trip to Sunday final

Staff Correspondent
German Chancellor Angela Merkel attends a weekly meeting of the German cabinet at the chancellery in Berlin on July 9, 2014. AFP
German Chancellor Angela Merkel attends a weekly meeting of the German cabinet at the chancellery in Berlin on July 9, 2014. AFP

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Joachim Gauck will attend the World Cup final Sunday in Rio de Janeiro to back the German side, the president's office said.

Merkel said she shared global opinion of Germany's 7-1 semi-final trouncing of Brazil "that it was a very good game," which, she said she believed "already almost deserves the term historic."

"I wish the team a great deal of strength and concentration for the upcoming challenge," she told reporters.

Germany will face either Argentina or the Netherlands for the championship on Sunday.

Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier tweeted "What a game! On to Rio de Janeiro!" before, diplomatically, adding his thanks to the "great" Brazilian hosts.

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