德國女總理默克爾公開對克林斯曼給予了高度讚揚，她預測德國隊至少能殺進四強，並希望克林斯曼能夠繼續留在德國隊主帥的崗位上。
http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news?slug=afp-fblwc2006germerkelklinsmann&prov=afp&type=lgns
Merkel praises Klinsmann, hopes he stays in job
AFP
June 28, 2006
BERLIN (AFP) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel has heaped praise on national football coach Jurgen Klinsmann in an interview and predicted Germany would reach the World Cup semi-finals
"He has done a wonderful job of preparing the 'Mannschaft' (team) for the World Cup. I hope he carries on like this for a long time to come," Merkel told Sport Bild magazine on Wednesday.
"I am confident that we will survive the quarter-finals," she added, hinting Germany will beat Argentina when they meet in Berlin on Friday.
Klinsmann took charge of Germany in August 2004 and has yet to pen a new deal as coach. He has declined to disclose his future plans, saying these hinged on the World Cup.
Merkel has charmed the public by turning into a committed, excitable football fan who has been in the stand for every one of Germany's matches.
She described the whole first half of the country's match against Sweden, which saw striker Lukas Podolski score two goals in less than 12 minutes, as her favourite World Cup moment so far.
"It was perhaps the best first half we have seen in the World Cup. It was a joy to see the way they played," she said.
The chancellor said she was delighted with what the tournament has done for the host country, in particular the way it has changed unflattering perceptions about Germans.
"At the European Union summit meeting (in mid-June), many people told me they thought it was great that Germans can be so cheerful.
"If it carries on like this, our country stands to benefit a great deal from the World Cup," she said.
Updated on Wednesday, Jun 28, 2006 7:00 am EDT
作者-趙海軍
責編：佟杉杉