BRAZIL BEAT: Merkel can’t watch Germany-US match

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, center, speaks with the press as she arrives for an European People's Party meeting in Kortrijk, Belgium on Thursday, June 26, 2014. European Union heads of state will gather on Thursday for the first day of an EU summit in the city Ypres and will participate in a ceremony to commemorate the outbreak of World War I under the Menin Gate. (AP Photo/Thierry Monasse) German Chancellor Angela Merkel, center, speaks with the press as she arrives for an European People's Party meeting in Kortrijk, Belgium on Thursday, June 26, 2014. European Union heads of state will gather on Thursday for the first day of an EU summit in the city Ypres and will participate in a ceremony to commemorate the outbreak of World War I under the Menin Gate. (AP Photo/Thierry Monasse)

By Associated Press June 26, 2014 1 min read

BERLIN (AP) – Germany’s most prominent fan, Chancellor Angela Merkel, won’t watch Thursday’s match between the country and the United States.

Merkel and other European Union leaders will be holding a solemn ceremony in Ypres, Belgium, to mark the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of World War I as the game kicks off. They will then attend a working dinner on the first day of a two-day summit.

The German government says Merkel’s evening will be dedicated entirely to working with her European colleagues.

Merkel traveled to Brazil for Germany’s opening 4-0 win against Portugal and posed for photos with the team.

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