Jens Lehmann Named German Number One for World Cup
April 7, 2006
It's been a barely concealed matter of personal animosity and professional pride ever since German national soccer coach Jürgen Klinsmann took over team selection in 2004. Who would be Germany's number one for the 2006 World Cup?
The nation's two larger-than-life goalkeepers -- Bayern Munich's Oliver Kahn and Jens Lehmann of Arsenal -- have spent the last 18 months puffing out their chests, trading insults and playing for the starting place between the posts. But on Friday, it was finally revealed that Klinsmann had decided to relegate Kahn to the substitutes' bench and install Lehmann as the main shot stopper for the World Cup.
"That was the toughest decision of my short career," said Klinsmann who admitted he felt Lehmann was a "tiny bit better" than Kahn. "Almost a year ago, in August, Oliver was in front but Jens has played very well these last few months, since the start of the season, and now he is ahead of Oliver. We think he is a tiny bit better," added Klinsmann.
"We have confidence in him, we are convinced he will know how to organise our relatively young defence."
Klinsmann had originally claimed a decision would be taken in May but Bayern Munich forced his hand early amid constant press and public speculation.
"This was always going to be a close race. Bayern asked us to take a decision to put an end to this situation which was weighing heavily on them," added the national team coach.
"After the match against the United States (which Germany won 4-1 on March 22 with Kahn in goal) we seriously analysed the evolution of the situation over the last 22 months and we took our decision."
Klinsmann added: "Oliver was very disappointed, it was not good news for him. But he reacted in a very professional manner. Jens was very happy that we showed faith in him and vowed to prove his worth."
Kahn's club, Bayern Munich, and the German Soccer Federation (DFB) both issued statements after Klinsmann had spoken privately with Germany's goalkeeping hero of the last World Cup. Kahn, who is on course for yet another league title in Germany, was unsurprisingly upset considering that he has barely put a foot wrong this season. But playing in a team that is rarely troubled at domestic level may have been a disadvantage when it came to staking his claim.
"I am very surprised and hugely disappointed by this decision," Kahn said. "I will reflect on my international future over the next few weeks."
While Kahn has been protected by one of the stingiest defenses in the Bundesliga, Lehmann has been forced into performing heroics week in, week out for Arsenal, as the London club goes through a transitional season with a new team filled with young stars.
Recognition for Lehmann's great season as defensive rock
A shaky start to the season behind an inexperienced back four has brought out the best in Lehmann and this has been widely regarded as his best campaign in England. His towering performances in the Champions League have helped Arsenal reach the semi-finals for the first time in eight attempts, thwarting the attacking prowess of Real Madrid and Juventus in the process.
Two years ago, Klinsmann's choice of Lehmann would have been viewed from under raised eyebrows. The aggressive and unpredictable Lehmann had been demoted to reserve keeper at Arsenal after making a series of high-profile bloopers, namely in the Champions League quarter-final in 2004 against London rivals Chelsea, which cost his team the match and the tie.
But a man-of-the-match performance in the 2005 FA Cup Final, in which Arsenal beat Manchester United on penalties, saw Lehmann back in coach Arsene Wenger's good books.
Germany's international stalwart returned to the role of deputy
Kahn has been the number one goalkeeper since Andreas Köpke retired after the 1998 World Cup in France, notching up a total of 84 caps for his country.
After deputizing in three major international tournaments before getting his chance, Kahn has gone on to represent Germany at the 2000 and 2004 European Championships as well as the 2002 World Cup in Japan/Korea where he won the Golden Ball for best player and the Yashin Award for top goalkeeper.
It now looks as though his run has come to an end and he will return to the status of deputy for what could be his last World Cup.
There is unlikely to be any congratulatory phone calls or words of commiseration flowing between Munich and London following Klinsmann's decision. It has been widely reported that the two Teutonic titans have few good things to say about each other. The sniping has not only been about their professional approach but also personal attacks including comments about their differing lifestyles and choice of partners.
The animosity reached such a level at one point that high-ranking officials in the German game, including Franz Beckenbauer, had to intervene to stop the row spreading from the pages of the tabloid press onto the training pitch. They needn't have worried --– neither goalkeeper has spoken to the other for almost two years.