Merkel to attend Euro 2008 final

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is to attend the Euro 2008 final in Vienna between Germany and Spain.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel will attend the Euro 2008 final in Vienna on Sunday between Germany and Spain, a government spokesman announced on Friday.

Merkel, who has been a regular visitor to the championships and was there as Germany beat Turkey 3-2 in Wednesday’s semi-final, will probably be accompanied by several of her ministers and the President Horst Kohler.

According to the spokesman while Merkel is crossing her fingers for Germany, she is also convinced that they will win their fourth European title.

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Merkel has already played an influential role in Germany’s campaign.

She was credited by German play-maker Bastian Schweinsteigger with giving him some useful advice when he sat close by her in the final first round match against Austria as he was serving a one game ban for being sent off against Croatia.

It certainly paid off as he came back for the quarterfinal with Portugal, scored the opener and created the other two goals as Germany ran out 3-2 winners.

“She told me what I needed to do today (for the quarter-final),” the Bayern Munich star said afterwards.

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“She told me I should not do the same foolish things (as against Croatia) and play as I had been doing before. “I took her advice.”

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