As you may be aware, the US and Germany are as of this writing playing a World Cup match that will decide who advances to the next round of competition. You may not know that the countries' diplomats are fighting about it — on Twitter.
The German UN mission started it two days ago, taunting US Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power about whether she knew the rules:
Amb Braun getting ready for the big match #GERUSA. Shall we go thru the rules again @AmbassadorPower @USUN? #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/9GNVBqes1p
— German Mission to UN (@GermanyUN) June 24, 2014
Power one-upped them, wagering some beers on a US victory. Germany took the bet:
Hey @GermanyUN, care to wager a case of @BrooklynBrewery beer that Team #USA wins on Thursday? #IBelieveThatWeWillWin pic.twitter.com/5vlem959HW
— Samantha Power (@AmbassadorPower) June 25, 2014
.@AmbassadorPower As long as the beer is chilled & from #GER, we are in. A case on the @DFB_Team! And #KeepOnDreaming - only 2 nights left.
— German Mission to UN (@GermanyUN) June 25, 2014
So on the day of Thursday's game, and throughout it, the German delegation, the American delegation, and Ambassador Power have been jabbing each other:
.@AmbassadorPower I share your love for Hefeweizen. But this time it'll be American beer, cause #DieMannschaft will win! Enjoy #USAGER! HB
— German Mission to UN (@GermanyUN) June 26, 2014
Estimated score 0-0 RT @GermanyUN: Quick update on #USAGER: Estimated ball posession so far #GER 84%, #USA 16%.
— US Mission to the UN (@USUN) June 26, 2014
.@GermanyDiplo @DFB_Team @AmbassadorPower C'mon guys, shipping US beer to #GER is taking owls to Athens.
— German Mission to UN (@GermanyUN) June 26, 2014
This is all obviously great fun. It's also pretty impressive to see, in a month that also saw the 60th anniversary of D-Day and the 100th anniversary of the assassination that kicked off World War I, that nationalist rivalry between the US and Germany has been reduced to a few friendly jokes and a beer bet. Times have really changed.
