Ollie the Buzzkill
His team is flying high, a mere three wins from winning the World Cup, but that still isn’t enough to make Germany backup keeper Oliver Kahn smile. While the rest of Germany was loudly and proudly celebrating its team performance against Sweden on Saturday, Kahn sat quietly on the bench looking like a man who was suffering either from hemorrhoids or a case of the benching blues.
Indeed, Kahn is still not happy about coach Jurgen Klinsmann choosing Jens Lehmann as Germany’s number one and on Sunday he voiced his displeasure again.
“Until recently, I was firmly convinced I would be playing (in the World Cup),” he said. “Every walk to the bench has been tough. I watch the game, try to form an impression of the action and then disappear into the changing room as fast as possible.”
Kahn said the only reason he had heard for why he was dropped was that Lehmann was supposedly playing a ‘tick’ better.
“I’m sorry, but do you the replace the one who’s been the number one for years when he’s playing consistently because another keeper is supposed to be a ‘tick’ better? That’s no justification for me,” he said.
It is easy to understand why Kahn is bummed out, but don’t you think it about time he turns that frown upside down?
Lehmann has been steady, but largely untested in goal for Germany, and the host nation is red hot, playing some of the best football of the tournament.
Does Kahn have such an ego that he feels the need to spout off now instead of waiting until the competition is over?
Apparently the answer is yes and it is unfortunate for those of us watching the games here in Germany because every time the host nation scores a goal we will see a shot of Kahn sitting on the bench looking grim and trying to kill the moment.
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Comments
By Trent | June 26th, 2006 at 3:30 am 
I learned this weekend that watching Ollie yawn and seeing Wayne yell are similar events:
Leonine, unsettling, and pg-13 at best.
By Euler | June 26th, 2006 at 5:02 am Someone could show him the final match against Brazil in 2002. After that final he can’t deny that it is time to give someone else a chance. Lehmann is in a great moment in his career!
I just couldn’t believe his jerkish attitude. It only shows he loves himself more than his nation. Argh!!!
By Blanca Donovan | June 26th, 2006 at 5:13 am What a whiner! He’s had 2 or 3 World Cups. WORLD CUPS! That’s 2 more than most players get ever! Reminds me of when Romario was not chosen for the 2002(?) World Cup and he cried like a little girl who wasn’t allowed to go to the popular kids’ party. Wake up, Ollie. It’s a new day for German football and if you want to be a part of it, you will get with the program. You shouldn’t argue with success.
Posted from 
United States
By Claude | June 26th, 2006 at 5:41 am I thought Lehmann looked a little shakey in goal in the Sweden game. I wish we had started with Kahn but I don’t think you should switch goalies in mid tournament. I wonder if that is the same look Kahn’s wife had while she was pregnant and he found some other babe to play with his soccer balls.
Posted from United States
By CTL | June 26th, 2006 at 9:23 am Jens Lehmann deserves his chance in the limelight after putting on some great displays (outnumbering the fumbles) for Arsenal over the last 3 seasons. Agreed that Lehmann has not been tested much (the 2 goals shipped via Costa Rica were not his fault), but wait for the inevitable penalty shootouts. Expect Lehmann to provide the necessary shutouts.
This may very well happen in the Germany / Argentina quarter-final. Both teams have never lost a shootout in the World Cup. Lehmann can make the difference between glory and exit.
Oliver Kahn is just a sore loser who does not want to share in his team’s glories. Let him sulk… should Lehmann get injured or suspended, give his place to Timo Hildebrand!
Posted from 
Singapore
By Karl | June 26th, 2006 at 9:49 am It’s just Kahn being Kahn.
He had to wait on the bench for years, until the former top german keeper retired before he could step into the #1 spot on the german national team for the ‘02 cup. Now, Lehmann has been sent in before he was ready to retired, so of course he’s bummed.
Plus, he is the reason the germans made it to the final match in ‘02. They weren’t even expected to make it out of the group stage (although this could just have been typical german pessimism). They may have one the final had he not injured his hand in the game and was unable to hold onto a shot that Ronaldo booted the rebound in. To bring a team so far, and be named the player of the tournament and then replaced when you still feel you’re at the top of your game has to be difficult.
Anyway, Lehmann did look shaky in the Sweden game but I doubt we’ll see Ollie Kahn back between the posts.
Posted from United States
By Dave Hamilton | June 26th, 2006 at 1:34 pm It must be hard for Kahn, especially here in Germany, to sit, but poor baby! I could feel sorrier for him if his off-field behavior was more appropriate! And choosing airheads over perfectly-good mates is stupid!
Posted from 
Germany
By Slartibartfast | June 26th, 2006 at 2:06 pm Don’t be too hard on Olli. Personally, I think that Jens Lehmann deserves to stand between the posts and that he was probably the right choice, but it was really a tough decision. Olli played a good season for Bayern Munich and so he was totally shocked when Jens Lehmann was elected to be #1. Everybody in Germany expected Olli to announce his retirement, but he felt, that he could be valuable for the team, so he stayed.
Olli is extremely ambitious, and I’m pretty sure that sitting on the bench and not being part of the game causes him almost physical pain. But still, you can see, that he is an important part of the team, some kind of father figure for the young players. Watch closely to whom Podolski and co. run, when there is something to celebrate.
So, I think we have to give some respect to Olli for being an important part of the team and we should simply overlook the grim look on his face. After all, he probably has one of the hardest jobs in Germany at the moment…
Posted from Germany
By john | June 26th, 2006 at 2:47 pm Lehman was extremely shaky in between the posts during the last game
He blundered and looks ineffective. I dont see how he could be intimidating on 1-on-1’s on in a penalty situation.
Posted from 
Ireland
By cliff | July 7th, 2006 at 6:31 am Kahn has every right to play for germany in the cup, he’s been the leader of the dominating german squad for years and as long as he can still lace up he should be in goal….. kahn is a force to recognize
By Olli Kahn FOREVER !! | July 9th, 2006 at 12:09 am How can anyone be so rude about him? He is a wonderful player and none less than a Legend. I saw him in the “ENTIRE” 2002 World Cup(as opposed to someone here who saw ONLY the Final match perhaps)and Deutschland reached the finals only because of his heroics.
Anyways he isn’t ’sulking’ as such. And as ‘Olli’ Kahn puts it himself:
“Anyone who is content to sit on the bench should be put on a plane and sent home. Of course I am frustrated, but I make a great point of not showing it. I would like to be judged on the inner strength I have shown and my ability to handle the situation.”
read on:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,28784-2248397,00.html
Btw , i type this as i just got to know he’s ‘announced’ his retirement from international football, a few minutes ago…
Dunno abt the tears i want to cry out .. but i see the end of road for a role model .. for many young german players .. and .. well not to mention .. for me.
HE epitomises the spirit of hardwork and embodies the zeal to perfection, and forever shall continue to do so…
Olli fur immer !!!!!
Posted from 
India
By Eric | July 9th, 2006 at 5:48 am In 2002 Oliver Kahn practicly pulled his squad, by himself, past all of the other teams they encountered.
That bit of fabric around his left arm is not there by chance. The man knows whats at stake and can be a hero and leader when need be. his teammates can obviously see that.
Jens Lehmenn has shown only that he is inconsistant, bad in the air, mentaly weak (chewing gum?) and passive.
Oliver was the greatest goalkeeper to play. Watch highlighst from 2002. He did win the golden ball. which baffon will win this year but he did it against ronoldo in his prime.
Of course he was frusterated. He is the best german goalkeeper and he showd that today in the third place game.
The man exemplifies everything it is to be a goalkeeper: a fearless hero, all the weight of the world on them and coming through it with defience. He deserves nothing but admiration from anybody that has ever wittnessed a football match.
I hope Kahn will be remembered as the goalkeeper he is.
Posted from United States
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