Lehmann hinted at the weekend that Germany's three leading keepers - Rene Adler, Robert Enke and Wiese - do not have the experience and self-confidence to succeed at next year's World Cup.

Stuttgart and former Germany stopper Lehmann also claimed he might "still be needed" by current national team boss Joachim Low.

But Wiese has hit back at the former Arsenal star, who retired from international duty after Euro 2008.

"It is a shame because he used to be a nice guy before he went to Stuttgart, but now he spends all his time trying to provoke people," Wiese said in the Bild newspaper.

"He just keeps getting on my nerves now.

"He is totally overrated and out of touch. He should remind himself of the own goal he scored against Bochum."