Lehmann beats Kahn to World Cup jersey
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FRANKFURT, April 7 (Reuters) - Coach Juergen Klinsmann has named Jens Lehmann as Germany's first choice goalkeeper for the 2006 World Cup ahead of former captain Oliver Kahn.
Kahn, who was extremely disappointed by the decision, says he will now chew over whether to retire.
Klinsmann decided to pick Arsenal's Lehmann ahead of Bayern Munich's more experienced Kahn after a meeting with his coaching team on Friday.
"It was the hardest decision of my time as coach," Klinsmann said in a statement released by the German Football Association.
Both Germany's senior goalkeepers are 36. Kahn has played 84 times for the World Cup hosts while Lehmann has won 29 caps.
Kahn captained Germany to the final of the last World Cup in South Korea and Japan, and was named player of the 2002 tournament.
"I'm very surprised and extremely disappointed," Kahn said in a statement on the website of champions Bayern.
"In the coming weeks I'll concentrate on my work with Bayern in the Bundesliga and German Cup.
"As to my future in the national team, I'll think it over in the coming weeks and comment in due course."
Klinsmann's decision follows days of heightened speculation, fuelled by a couple of bad mistakes by Kahn and Lehmann's faultless performances for Arsenal in the Champions League.
In four games against Real Madrid and Juventus, Arsenal did not concede a goal on the way to the semi-finals.
A mistake by Kahn in Germany's 4-1 win over the United States in a friendly last month may have sealed his fate.
"After the game against the U.S. we made an intense analysis of developments over the previous 22 months and then made a decision," Klinsmann said in the statement.
"Of course Oliver was disappointed but he took the decision like a true sportsman."
One of Klinsmann's first acts as coach after taking over in 2004 was to strip Kahn of the captaincy and inform the Bayern keeper he faced a battle with Lehmann for the first choice position.
The coach has since alternated the two players, saying he would make a final decision at the start of May.
His earlier than expected decision may have been due to pressure from Bayern.
The club's sporting director Uli Hoeness this week accused Klinsmann of waging a campaign of "psychological terror" on Kahn by not announcing his decision sooner.
The uncertainty was to blame for Kahn's two errors in a 2-2 draw with Cologne in the Bundesliga last weekend, the club said.
Germany get the World Cup underway with a Group A game against Costa Rica on June 9 at Bayern Munich's stadium.
Jus becos hes second choice hes gonna quit le.. a bit loser leh..
Kudos to the coach for daring to drop the former skipper
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Could be his performance for Arsenal in the recent CL games. -
True.Originally posted by Manager433:
Could be his performance for Arsenal in the recent CL games.
Wait end up Lehman is another Henry.
Performs to his best at club level but fail at international level.
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Oliver Kahn has been arrogant since day 1 after putting on the No.1 jersey from Andreas Kopke.
While his performances merit his claim, he should still allow open competition for the sake of the team as it is always imperative for the TEAM to have the BEST starting XI.
The fact that he whitewashed Jens Lehmann in many previous press statements indicates his disregard of the qualities Jens possesses.
It should come as no surprise that he throws a tandrum at being overlooked for first choice 'keeper and harbours thought of 'quitting'.
If that is the 'sportsmanship' claimed by Klinnsman, then it's best to let him quit for the sake of the team. No one player should be considered indispensable as that encourages elitism, a trait that stifles growth and change. -
If Germany is eliminated during group stages due to mistakes by Lehmann...
Wouldn't Jurgen Klinnsman be sucking his thumbs and Oliver Kahn be laughing?
Nobody would fault a manager for choosing a proven winner at the big stage and if the player stumbles, player's fault, but backing someone untested is a big risk.. the manager will be blamed instead. -
I believe Kahn will retire.
To save face,he will retire before the world cup. -
Lehmann and Hildebrand.
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kahn performance has been erratic..
and for a tournament like the world cup..
its better and safer to go by form and confidence..lehmann if he brings arsenal to ucl glory will feel like he's unbeatable..this gives the whole team confidence.. -
nothing wrong with his behaviour. why should you be cordial to one who is unappreciative of you.
if you can help it, why should you slog under some one who undeestimates you. -
Recall hans joerng butt pls
Micheal rensing look good too. -
i would give kahn the start rather than lehman... kahn is just going through bad patch but when big tornament he is the one to depend on...
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Ya i tink Kahn shld be the 1st choice also..Originally posted by BrUtUs:i would give kahn the start rather than lehman... kahn is just going through bad patch but when big tornament he is the one to depend on...
his experience will come in handy during those big games in the tournament -
oilver kahn is lao kong kong le
he scram better
he think wad...he beri gud mehz?
Lehmann should get the no 1 shirt
as he deserve it
[/url] -
Khan is really good.Originally posted by xShevchenkox:oilver kahn is lao kong kong le
he scram better
he think wad...he beri gud mehz?
Lehmann should get the no 1 shirt
as he deserve it
[/url] -
kahn is not best player in 2002 for nothing...though it has been 4 years since...
somehow i feel lehmann dun have the seh of number 1... -
he dun give the defenders a safe feeling...Originally posted by R3SsH|n:kahn is not best player in 2002 for nothing...though it has been 4 years since...
somehow i feel lehmann dun have the seh of number 1... -
I'll call that Aura or Presence.Originally posted by BrUtUs:he dun give the defenders a safe feeling...
Kahn just have it. -
his face is enuff to scare attackers away...Originally posted by M©+square:I'll call that Aura or Presence.
Kahn just have it. -
Lehmann is not very young either.Originally posted by xShevchenkox:oilver kahn is lao kong kong le
he scram better
he think wad...he beri gud mehz?
Lehmann should get the no 1 shirt
as he deserve it
[/url] -
i posted dis in another forum:
y they wan let kahn go!
dat lehmann got so good heart let him play meh. na bei. coz he tink dis match placin nobirdie care one wat.
kahn so zai loh. not like him, catch the ball liao, can stil drop, den he oso fall, den the ball roll roll roll, den he crawl crawl crawl.
shitz. heartless leh they. foolish.
the scene of him wif tears uncontrollably streamin dwn his face... made me feel a kind of loss n emptiness which i neber felt below.
i wan start petition. but not many ppl got affection for him.
but he been part of my life fer so long liao. =~~~
u all can help sign anot? -
dis, not many ppl knw.Originally posted by Nelstar:Lehmann is not very young either. -
just look at his face..btw why whouldn''t they know lehmann's age?Originally posted by Hello Kitty:dis, not many ppl knw.