Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has congratulated Chancellor Angela Merkel on Germany’s win in the World Cup hard-fought standoff with Argentina.
The now fourth-time champions of the FIFA World Cup defeated the Latin American team 1:0 with a late goal in extra time. The match was played at Rio’s Maracana stadium in Brazil.
Vladimir Putin was reportedly watching the final from a VIP box, sitting next to FIFA president Sepp Blatter and Angela Merkel, who attended the match together with the nation’s President Joachim Gauck.
After Germany’s extra-time win Putin shook hands with Merkel. He also used the occasion to discuss the conflict in Ukraine.