Trust in Lehmann, insists Kahn

Former Germany captain Oliver Kahn insisted Saturday the public and press here must trust national goalkeeper Jens Lehmann for Euro 2008 despite the Arsenal man spending most of last season on the bench.

“One should think he is more than capable of playing at the highest level during Euro 2008 – Germany should trust him,” Kahn told Munich newspaper TZ.

Having retired from Bayern Munich last season after more than 550 Bundesliga appearances, Kahn stressed the importance of Lehmann believing both his country and team trust him to do the job for Euro 2008 which starts next Saturday.

Germany, who open their campaign against Poland in Klagenfurt on June 8, played their final warm-up game against Serbia on Saturday.

Lehmann has been the national goalkeeper since the 2006 World Cup, but having lost his place at Arsenal last season, debate has raged for months here as to whether he should remain as Germany’s number one shot-stopper.

And after Lehmann conceded two goals in Germany’s lacklustre 2-2 draw with minnows Belarus in a friendly last Tuesday, the goalkeeper’s performance has come under renewed scrutiny.

“There is simply no comparison,” insisted Kahn when talking about Lehmann’s rivals Hanover’s Robert Enke and Rene Adler from Bayer Leverkusen.

“Jens is experienced and stable, I am certain he is the right player.”