Angie trying the new "Lemon Flavor" Beer

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, left, and Italian Sports Minister Giovanna Melandri prior the final of the soccer World Cup between Italy and France in the Olympic Stadium in Berlin, Sunday, July 9, 2006. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

"Waves" they say...

German Chancellor Angela Merkel waves prior to the start of the World Cup 3rd place soccer match between Germany and Portugal at the Gottlieb-Daimler stadium in Stuttgart, Germany, Saturday, July 8, 2006. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

Klinsmann hearts Merkel

AP Photo/Daniel Maurer; REUTERS/Thomas Bohlen; AP Photo/Frank Augstein

July 9 (Bloomberg) -- German soccer fans, who were braced for World Cup humiliation, clogged central Berlin to celebrate the team's third-place finish as coach Juergen Klinsmann reflected on his embrace by Chancellor Angela Merkel.

``I was very proud to be hugged,'' Klinsmann, mulling the offer of a new contract, told reporters after beating Portugal 3- 1 in a playoff yesterday. ``She was at our side when times were hard and supported us when the critics were all over us. I'd like to thank her.''

Klinsmann's impact was international. Mexico's El Universal newspaper said the proliferation of flags on display across Germany hadn't been seen since World War II.

``The collective penance lasted 61 years,'' said the paper. ``It took the World Cup to put an end to it.''

Chairs are like, so Corporate...

Former Deputy Ambassador to Mongolia, Afghanistan and Sierra Leone, Ann Wright; seated left to right, peace activist Cindy Sheehan; Iraq War veteran, former Army Sgt. Geoffrey Millard; and Franciscan Friar Louis Vitale, eat their last meal before beginning the fast at midnight to end the Iraq War, in front of the White House, Monday, July 3, 2006, in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

Another "Heil" Photo

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, left, and President Horst Koehler walk across the pitch after Italy defeated Germany 2-0 in the semifinal World Cup soccer match between Germany and Italy in Dortmund, Germany, Tuesday, July 4, 2006. Italy won the match 2-0 after extra time. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)

Premiere of "Darfur Chic"

British Actress Keira Knightley arrives at the Leicester Square Odeon cinema London for the UK premier of Pirates of the Caribbean 2, Dead Man's Chest.(AFP/Shaun Curry)

"Not Bad"

AP Photo/Jan Bauer; REUTERS/Eric Thayer

"Come to Mama"

REUTERS/Thomas Bohlen (GERMANY) ; REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

WMD Tastes like Chicken

Ivorian soldiers help sanitary workers to capture poultry 24 May 2006 in the Anoumabo quarter in a Abidjan. West African ministers adopted a plan for fighting the outbreak of deadly avian influenza in the region and preventing its spread to humans.(AFP/fILE/Issouf Sanogo)

German Undercover Security is quite good

Who would guess that the RedBull drinking skater is a human weapon?

An unidentified woman skates in front of Bavarian State Prime Minister Edmund Stoiber (R) and his fellow party member secretary general of the German Christian Social Union (CSU) Markus Soeder (L) on their way to a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin June 25, 2006. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann (GERMANY)

Das Booty

A female German soccer fan holds a German flag as she watches the soccer World Cup Group A match Germany against Ecuador at a public viewing zone in Berlin on Tuesday, June 20, 2006. The other teams in Group A are Costa Rica and Poland. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

Merkel Mocks

Chancellor Angela Merkel, left points prior to the start of the Ecuador v Germany Group A World Cup soccer match at the Olympic Stadium, Berlin, Germany, Tuesday, June 20, 2006. The other teams in Group A are Costa Rica and Poland. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)

Hippies in Disguise?

Sergeant At Arms Walter Porter Sr., left, Honor Guard Member Ernie Combs, center, and Past Commander Ben Singleton, from the Fort Cumberland American Legion Post 13, burn old United States flags during a Flag Day ceremony Wednesday, June 14, 2006, in Cumberland, Md. (AP Photo/Cumberland Times-News, John A. Bone)

"You have the hands of a twenty year-old man, Jacques, you really do"

German Chancellor Angela Merkel (R) greets French President Jacques Chirac at the start of a European Union heads of state and governments summit in Brussels June 15, 2006. REUTERS/Francois Lenoir (BELGIUM)

Reuters photographers have a hard-on for Angie...

German Chancellor Angela Merkel adjusts her glasses before the Group A World Cup 2006 soccer match between Germany and Poland in Dortmund June 14, 2006. FIFA RESTRICTION - NO MOBILE USE REUTERS/Jerry Lampen (GERMANY)