Kahn Resigned to Keeper Rotation Plan
August 20, 2005Bayern Munich goalkeeper Oliver Kahn admits he would not be overly surprised if German national coach Jürgen Klinsmann decided to rotate his goalkeepers during the 2006 FIFA World Cup finals. While most nations have an established number one custodian Germany rotate Kahn and Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann, with Klinsmann believing it is good for competition ahead of the finals. "I have to accept the way it is. I played against the Netherlands and then another goalkeeper has two games," explained Kahn. "Perhaps we will still be using this policy for the finals. That would be a new concept." The 36-year-old Kahn was in goal for the friendly match against the Netherlands in Rotterdam on Wednesday and will be again for the subsequent warm-up matches against Turkey and China on October 8 and 12. Lehmann will then take centre stage for the Slovakia friendly on September 3 before facing South Africa nine days later and France on November 12. VfB Stuttgart glovesman Timo Hildebrand will be the back-up goalkeeper for all six friendly matches leaving Kahn and Lehmann free to concentrate on their club duties. "As it stands Kahn is the number one, Lehmann the number two and Hildebrand third choice," confirmed Klinsmann. Former Bayern Munich striker Klinsmann wants the loser of the Kahn-Lehmann duel to provide back-up for the FIFA World Cup finals but former German goalkeeping great Toni Schumacher believes that is just a pipedream. "Neither of those two will sit on the bench," Schumacher told Bild am Sonntag. "For Kahn and Lehmann it is their last major tournament and it is only worth turning up if they are the number one."
