Chancellor Merkel Goes Fussball Crazy

When the semi-final of Euro 2008 kicks off this evening the German team can be sure that, short of a national crisis, one of their biggest and perhaps most unlikely fans will be there to offer her support.

Chancellor Angela Merkel has become so wrapped up in the team effort that she sends players regular text messages before and after games and has even been invited into their dressing room for pep talks.

A government spokesman confirmed Merkel would attend the Turkey-Germany match in Basle, after being forced to miss Thursday's quarter-final against Portugal because of the EU summit in Brussels. Instead aides sent her updates via text.

Merkel first revealed her penchant for football during the World Cup in Germany two years ago. This summer her enthusiasm has come into its own. German television coverage now seems incomplete without cutaways to Merkel jumping up and down when Germany has scored.

Asked about Germany's chance of winning Euro 2008, Merkel said: "I would warn against seeing it as a given."

After Germany's 1-0 defeat of Austria last week, she said: "We played efficiently, it was the right result and we now have the energy for the next round. It was a great goal from Ballack - and all credit to Lahm, who ran an unbelievable amount."

She has even chided German winger Bastian Schweinsteiger for being suspended for the Austria game. He said: "She told me that I shouldn't do the same stupid things again. When Frau Chancellor says you have to do something you have to do it."

Germans have been charmed by her enthusiasm, which with a general election expected next year, she may find useful.