World Cup Round Up: Lehmann hates Kahn, Diouf Quits Senegal

Think back to the 2006 World Cup when Jens Lehmann was named Germany’s number one keeper ahead of Oliver Kahn, who at first didn’t take the move too well but who later played the good guy by supporting Lehmann and the team. Well, it turns out that Lehmann has some thoughts about Mr. Kahn and let’s just say the two won’t be sharing a beer during Oktoberfest anytime soon.

Speaking to the German magazine Der Spiegel, Lehmann said:

“He takes himself far too seriously and thinks he is very important. I don’t like it when someone glorifies themself.”

Hard to argue with Lehmann there, although the Arsenal keeper has been known to glorify himself from time to time when he isn’t busy blundering in goal.

Staying in Germany, we learn that an Iranian-born player in Germany’s under-21 national soccer team has withdrawn from an upcoming match against Israel citing “personal reasons”. Ashkan Dejagah, who plays for Wolfsburg, has begged out of Germany’s European Championship qualifier against Israel because of pressure from his birthland.

“It has political reasons. Everyone knows that I am German-Iranian,” he said of the decision to withdraw.

One guy who will not be playing against Israel, Germany or any other country is Senegal captain El Hadji Diouf. The 26-year-old has had it up to here with his country’s football federation.

“There are so many problems with the national team.

“The team has a scheduled friendly match in a week and we don’t even know who we are playing against. This is unacceptable,” said the 26-year-old striker, who has played for his country over 30 times.

“If we have to come and play for our country, we have to pay for our own air ticket and reimbursement of the cost is another big problem,” he added.

You have to hate it when your country makes you use up all your frequent flyer miles just for a meaningless friendly. How much do you want to bet Diouf comes out of retirement if Senegal qualifies for the 2010 World Cup?

One set of people who you know didn’t have to pay for their flights are the inspectors from FIFA who are in South Africa this week checking up on the country’s progress for the 2010 World Cup. While they are at it, they should check into the payment made to the departing FIFA general secretary Urs Linsi. FIFA and corruption. Some things will never change.

Finally, the Asian World Cup qualifiers kick off this week and as is always the case the minnows will be swimming upstream.

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