Germany goalkeeper Jens Lehmann has laid down the gauntlet to his rivals for the position by saying they will have to fight him for his place.
The Arsenal custodian will keep goal for Germany in their upcoming Euro 2008 qualifiers against San Marino and Slovakia and is confident of remaining the number one choice in the future.
The 37-year-old told German newspaper Bild: "It was hard enough (becoming number one) so why should I make it easier for anybody else?
"I will play until the time comes when sombody is better than me. I would happily be knocked off my perch."
Stuttgart'sTimo Hildebrand is widely regarded as the future number one goalkeeper, but Lehmann will not even let him face group whipping boys San Marino at the weekend.
"Why should I let him have the game?" he said. "Even against San Marino I can feel the adrenaline is pumping."
And his position at Arsenal does not worry him either after recently signing a contract extension.
"When I am phyiscally fit and have nothing distracting me mentally, then nobody can match me for experience," he added.
The 37-year-old told German newspaper Bild: "It was hard enough (becoming number one) so why should I make it easier for anybody else?
"I will play until the time comes when sombody is better than me. I would happily be knocked off my perch."
Stuttgart'sTimo Hildebrand is widely regarded as the future number one goalkeeper, but Lehmann will not even let him face group whipping boys San Marino at the weekend.
"Why should I let him have the game?" he said. "Even against San Marino I can feel the adrenaline is pumping."
And his position at Arsenal does not worry him either after recently signing a contract extension.
"When I am phyiscally fit and have nothing distracting me mentally, then nobody can match me for experience," he added.
Copyright (c) Press Association
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