Lehmann criticised Kahn in Monday's Spiegel magazine, saying he does not like the way the Bayern keeper considers "himself to be so important".

That was in reaction to Kahn's comments that there would never again be an era like his in which one goalkeeper is the dominant German number one.

With Lehmann's place in doubt after Manuel Almunia took his place at Arsenal, Kahn has taken the opportunity to have another swipe at the 37-year-old.

"Instead of showing no style in having a go at his former colleagues, he should be thankful that he even has the chance to play for the national team when he is not playing for his club," said Kahn in Thursday's Kicker magazine.

"This scenario has never arisen in the history of German football."

Lehmann's new rival, Timo Hildebrand, is hoping for his chance having ousted Santiago Canizares to become first-choice goalkeeper at Valencia.

"I have taken an important step at Valencia, am playing in their goal and I want to take this same step with the national team soon," he told the Bild newspaper.

However, after seeing Kahn and Lehmann's feud from close up in recent years, Hildebrand aims to get to the top in a different manner.

He said: "There will be no big attacks from me on Jens Lehmann. That does not help and is not my style.

"I prefer to concentrate on myself; I want to let my performances do the talking and become number one that way.

"In the end, it is not the loudest who wins, but the best."

Germany coach Joachim Low has warned Lehmann he needs to be playing regularly and would have no qualms about dropping the Arsenal shot-stopper if his club situation does not alter.

"We need a goalkeeper at Euro 2008 who is playing regularly," he said.