Germany`s Angela Merkel to choose World Cup final over PM Modi?

Zee Media Bureau/Deepak Nagpal

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi`s meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel may not happen after all. With Germany into Football World Cup semis and there being a good chance of the European nation beating hosts Brazil to make their way into the final, there is every possibility of the German leader cancelling her planned meeting with India`s new Prime Minister and instead flying to South America to watch the Cup final. Germany play Brazil in the first semi-final of the FIFA World Cup tonight (early tomorrow morning India time) and the fate of the Modi-Merkel meeting depends on the way Philip Lahm and his boys play. Sources said Merkel is expected to choose Maracana (where the final will be played) over her scheduled meeting with Modi if Germany goes into the final. The two world leaders are scheduled to meet over dinner on Sunday (July 13), the day World Cup final will be played (early July 14 India time). Merkel had sent out an invitation to Modi for a dinner during his stopover in Germany – the Indian PM would be travelling to Brazil for the BRICS summit scheduled for July 15. Though unwillingly, Modi accepted Merkel`s invitation for a stopover dinner in Berlin. He was originally scheduled to make a night`s stop in Frankfurt. While Indian officials have said in private that the government would understand Merkel`s compulsion in case she cancels the dinner, but the same would surely be a bit awkward for PM Modi.