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The coach of the German national team, Jurgen Klinsmann, has decided that the team's main goalkeeper in the upcoming World Cup will no longer be Oliver Kahn, but Jens Lehmann.
Since 2004, when Klinsmann took over the reins of the German national team, the team did not have a main goalkeeper - in one match, 36-year-old Oliver Kahn played representing Munich, and in the other - his London counterpart Jens Lehmann. However, as the championship start date approached, the coach decided to choose the latter option.
"This was the hardest decision I have made as a coach so far," Klinsmann said. "Of course, Oliver is disappointed, but he accepted this decision as a true professional."
Meanwhile, Oliver Kahn sadly stated: "I am surprised and very disappointed. In the near future, I will consider my future in the national team and announce my decision. Now I have to focus on my work with the Bayern team."
The best goalkeeper on the planet in the year 2000 has recently demonstrated less reliable play than before. In the last Bundesliga match against Cologne, two mistakes by the goalkeeper led to a 2-2 draw. Meanwhile, Jens Lehmann has been playing very reliably this season and has received praise from both fans and Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger.
"They are both very talented goalkeepers, but we believe that Jens Lehmann better fits our playing philosophy," commented former German national team goalkeeper and current coach Andreas Kopke.
