Germany goalkeeper Jens Lehmann has thanked team-mate Oliver Kahn for his support during the World Cup finals on home soil.

Arsenal custodian Lehmann was made first choice by coach Jurgen Klinsmann just before the tournament, leaving Kahn - the captain in the 2002 finals - to watch on from the bench for the whole of the competition, until the third-place play-off against Portugal.

Lehmann said: "I think we were a very entertaining goalkeeping duo for the media and the public over the years.

"But I can say from my point of view that we pushed ourselves greatly in our performances, because you knew if you wanted to play, you were not allowed to let it slip.

"He has three tournaments, while I have one. Now I have played a tournament which makes me happy, but our relationship was defined by incredible competition.

"During a World Cup, the competitive situation - which dominated the build-up to the tournament - is forgotten. It was the same with me in 2002.

"During a tournament you say to yourself 'well, I am sitting on the bench. I need to support the team and cannot cause any problems'. You have to be quiet.

"Oliver has accepted that perfectly and also lived up to it."