Football's Top Shot-Stoppers: Lehmann's Push for a Goalkeeping Battle Royale in Die Mannschaft
Goalkeeper Selection: Lehmann Raises Questions on ter Stegen, Advocates for Leno - Commission Has Yet to Finalize Proposal for Worker Safety from Harmful Chemicals
Jens Lehmann, the legendary German goalkeeper, ain't havin' it with the current state of the national team's goalkeeping position. Despite boss Julian Nagelsmann's decision to pin thenumber one spot on Marc-André ter Stegen, Lehmann's speakin' up for an all-out turf war in the DFB goal. The 55-year-old ex-national 'keeper is even callin' for the return of Bernd Leno from Premier League club FC Fulham.
Lehmann, who served as Neuer's backup for years, got a bit skeptical about ter Stegen's comeback in the Nations League. "When you're out for a long stretch, it usually takes a while to get back to your prime," Lehmann said, doin' a swap meet on ter Stegen's 43rd international appearance, set to take place against Portugal on Wednesday (21:00 CET) in Munich.
Poor ter Stegen's hit a speed bump with a nasty patellar tendon tear in the knee, keepin' him out of action for nine months, and he ain't had much action at FC Barcelona since then, either.
"Marc will be number one. I'm sure he'll pull off two smashing games," Nagelsmann said in Herzogenaurach, where the DFB crew is preppin' for the Nations League Final. Trusty ol' ter Stegen, with years of experience under his belt, don't need to jog his memory with tune-up matches, according to Nagelsmann.
Lehmann reminisces about his World Cup showdown with Kahn
Lehmann's got a point, though. He had a piece of the pie in the 2006 World Cup, thanks to a ruthless goalkeeping competition against Oliver Kahn, the long-time number one for Germany. Lehmann reckons that keepin' things hot between the goalkeepers is vital, especially as we round the corner for the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
"The most important thing is always havin' a competition fire burnin' right up until the tournament's about to start," Lehmann said, channeling his Jürgen Klinsmann days.
What's Leno got to do with it?
Lehmann'd also holler for Leno to join the goalkeeping scrum. "But I've also got a different perspective on football," Lehmann added.
Already capped nine times for the national team, Leno's chance to make a comeback might've been zapped permanently because of his past decision to snub an invite from Nagelsmann as third 'keeper for a DFB training camp. Leno only wanted to join the party if he got to play, not just hang around and schmooze.
Key Players:
- Jens Lehmann
- Marc-André ter Stegen
- Bernd Leno
- Goalkeeping competition
- German national team
- Julian Nagelsmann
- DFB
- Portugal
- Nations League
- Oliver Kahn
Sources:1. https://www.goal.com/en-us/news/marc-andre-ter-stegen-sb05427302. https://www.bundesliga.com/en/news/ter-stegen-on-atleti-extreme-mentality3. https://www.jenslehmann.info/
- Jens Lehmann, despite Julian Nagelsmann's decision to make Marc-André ter Stegen the first-choice goalkeeper, is advocating for a heated competition among goalkeepers, even suggesting the return of Bernd Leno.
- Reflecting on the 2006 World Cup, where he was involved in a ruthless goalkeeping competition with Oliver Kahn, Lehmann maintains that keeping the competition fire burning is crucial, especially as the 2026 World Cup approaches.
