Merkel's German Elbowing France to get to London

New British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and German leader Angela Merkel are hitting it off, according to the Financial Times. The two recently met at 10 Downing Street and then headed out for a football match. (The Germans topped the Brits, 2-1.)

FT goes on to size up the strengthened ties between the two, and where the new French leader, Nicolas Sarkozy, might fit, or how he might simply be elbowed out of the picture. Reportedly, Merkel is countering Sarkozy's protectionist industrial policies by hamming it up with Brown.

Only, just how much distance can Merkel put between Germany and France, and how will Sarkozy respond?