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German goalkeepers bickering again over World Cup place [Fri Sep 2nd, 2005]
Frankfurt (Reuters) - Juergen Klinsmann's new policy of keeping Oliver Kahn and Jens Lehmann far away from each other has failed to stop their bickering, with the two goalkeepers renewing their rivalry in print this week.
Klinsmann plans to rotate the two players in friendly internationals this season before deciding in May who will keep goal for the World Cup hosts.
It is Lehmann's turn to play in the games against Slovakia on Saturday and South Africa on Wednesday and the Arsenal player used the platform to reopen a debate Klinsmann believed he had closed until next year.
"I'm sure I'll be in goal (at the World Cup)," the 35-year-old told Bild newspaper, before hinting that Kahn would only get a game if he were suspended.
"It could always happen that I play the first three games, then get a red card, but I'm sure I'll be playing."
Kahn, back training with Bayern Munich while the squad flew out to Bratislava, was unhappy with his rival for reviving the issue.
"It is astonishing how disrespectful it is to bring this up again," Kahn told the same newspaper. "The rules don't seem to have any meaning for him."
One of Klinsmann's first acts as coach was to take the captaincy of the team away from Kahn, while warning him he was not an automatic first choice for the World Cup.
"Each man will get his chance," the former striker repeated this week. "This will all be decided in May."
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