When former Germany keeper Jens Lehmann said earlier this month he wants to play at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, many said it was just another provocative statement by the 39-year-old at the twilight of his career.

Even Germany coach Joachim Loew and national goalkeeping coach Andreas Koepke ruled out a return, saying there were four talented keepers in the squad already, with Bayer Leverkusen’s Rene Adler, Hanover 96 keeper Robert Enke, Manuel Neuer who plays for Schalke and Werder Bremen’s Tim Wiese.

Lehmann, who retired from the team after their Euro 2008 final loss to Spain, kept at it, saying he wanted to come back. “If the national team has the need for a keeper like me then they will approach me,” the former Arsenal and now VfB Stuttgart keeper said this week.

After Werder Bremen and Leverkusen qualified for the German Cup final, Lehmann could actually be right.

Germany are on an Asian tour from May 29 to June 3, but it now looks like they are fresh out of keepers. Wiese and Adler will play in the May 30 Cup final, Neuer will be at the U21 European championships and Enke could be locked in a relegation play-off with his club.

That leaves a few other options but none as attractive as Lehmann.

Arminia Bielefeld’s Dennis Eilhoff has had a very good season but just like Dortmund’s Roman Weidenfeller, is not as big a name and crowd puller as Lehmann for such a tour. Former Germany keeper Timo Hildebrand has had an injury-plagued return to the Bundesliga after signing for newcomers Hoffenheim late last year after a fruitless spell in Spain.

With several other big names missing from the squad — captain Michael Ballack will be with Chelsea at the FA Cup final, Real Madrid’s Christoph Metzelder still has league action, Bremen’s Torsten Frings plays in the German Cup final — Lehmann could possibly just sneak in.

PHOTO: Stuttgart’s goalkeeper Jens Lehmann gestures during their German Bundesliga first division soccer match against Herta Berlin in Stuttgart March 21, 2009. REUTERS/Michael Dalder

Two is better than one, or is it?

Atletico Madrid coach Javier Aguirre has stirred up a debate over goalkeepers by refusing to name a first choice custodian at the Calderon, rotating Argentina’s Leo Franco with France’s Gregory Coupet.

The Mexican’s policy has prompted a flurry of differing opinions after Atletico were trounced 6-1 at Barcelona last weekend, with new recruit Coupet in nets.

The Frenchman has conceded nine goals in five league games. Leo Franco, who has mainly been used in Europe, has let in three in four Champions League matches and a league encounter. (more…)

I’ve blogged before about the wealth of youngish goalkeeping talent in the Bundesliga, a list headed by Rene Adler at Bayer Leverkusen, Manuel Neuer at Schalke and Bayern Munich’s new number one Michael Rensing.

While Adler remains first choice in Leverkusen, and Neuer will certainly regain the gloves from the 19-year-old Ralf Faehrmann as soon as he’s fit, Juergen Klinsmann might just be getting a bit worried about Rensing, who had a shocker in Bayern’s 5-2 defeat at home to Werder Bremen at the weekend.

Rensing was anointed as Oliver Kahn’s successor as long ago as 2004, when at the age of 19 he made his Bundesliga debut in a 1-0 win over Hamburg. From then on he made occasional appearances as cover for Kahn and always acquitted himself at least decently, and sometimes very well indeed.

When Kahn finally retired at the end of last season there was no debate at the club, Rensing would be the number one, but the transition has not been a smooth one.

His record of never having appeared on the losing side for Bayern in 27 previous Bundesliga games came to an end with a series of comical errors against Bremen but even before then (just see the Champions League game against Steaua Bucharest) it was becoming clear that his greater agility is not going to make up for the loss of Kahn’s great presence.

Klinsmann has pledged his support to Rensing and no one expects the coach to take drastic action any time soon. Still, Klinsmann’s decision to bring in the former Leverkusen keeper Hans-Joerg Butt as cover is starting to look an ever more sensible move.

PHOTO: Michael Rensing reacts during Bayern’s humiliating defeat by Werder Bremen in Munich, September 20, 2008. REUTERS/Alexandra Beier