Archives for "Keeper News"

South Korea’s keeper Jung Sung-Ryong was the first keeper to appear in an all Nike kit in their first match against Greece. He wore the Nike Park 3 Jersey in Silver:

Nike Park 3 Jersey (Silver) – £29.99 Adult and £23.99 Junior

His choice of glove was the Nike VG3:

Nike VG3 Goalkeeper Glove £49.99

Copyright: Getty Images

Despite a disappointing game between France and Uruguay last night, one highlight was the superb outfit that Uruguay’s No.1 Fernando Muslera was wearing. He was wearing a combination of the Puma PowerCat 1.10 Jersey:

Puma PowerCat 1.10 Jersey – £34.99

Combined with the brilliant Reusch Xosa Pro G1 gloves:

Reusch Xosa Pro G1 World Cup – £49.99 or available as a SG version at £29.99

Iker Casillas has questioned whether England can be considered genuine World Cup contenders with the goalkeeping options at Fabio Capello’s disposal.

Spain No.1 Casillas is regarded as one of the finest keepers on the planet.

Spain are blessed with keepers, Spain Manager Vicente del Bosque also has Liverpool’s Pepe Reina and Victor Valdes of Barcelona in his squad.

David James, Robert Green and Joe Hart do not play for such successful clubs and Casillas feels this is a crucial factor going into the tournament in South Africa.

Casills says “their goalkeeping situation is a real problem”" the Real Madrid shot-stopper told the Daily Express.

“None of the goalkeepers have played even at European Cup level and, if you have never played in the top club competition, you’re going to find it hard to perform at the top international level when even more eyes are on you.”

“I don’t see that Fabio has any choice but to play Green,” he explained.

“To throw Joe Hart into the World Cup with no experience would be crazy.”

By Jens Lehmann

“I was probably one of the most entertaining players in Germany over the past 20 years with my mistakes, escapades and antics but I have also through my achievements given people plenty of opportunity to laugh, cry, be happy and be angry.” writes Jens Lehmann (40) in his autobiography, having ended his long career as a goalkeeper last weekend.

Now BILD can reveal exclusive extracts from the book, in which he tells all about how deeply the death of Robert Enke affected him, why he is angry with a national team player, the truth about his exit from the international scene – and what has embarrassed him during his career.

But perhaps two of the most biggest stories Jens has been involved in are his rivalry with Oliver Kahn and THAT World Cup note.

“Jens!” Andy Köpke’s voice comes out of the phone as if he had just learnt of the death of his best friend. “Jens, we have to make a decision today.”

It is Friday April 7, 2006. For almost a year the so-called ‘T question’ has been smouldering, the question of who will play in goal for the national team during the World Cup in Germany – Oliver Kahn or me.

“We have asked Oliver to come to us here in Munich,” he adds. “Oh my God, they have decided against me,” I think, he sounds that gloomy. “It was really not easy for us, we have sat together since last night. But we have settled on you.”

Almost 23 years after I had resolved, whilst sat on my parents’ sofa in Essen, to be a professional footballer and one day to be better than Toni Schumacher in that 1982 World Cup semi-final, 23 years on I have managed it: I am the number one in the German goal. Finally it has come to me like I had wished for. But what should I do now? Let out a cry of joy? Do a lap of honour around my car? Do a Mexican wave on my own? The only thing which ultimately comes out is a small, happy smile. It has taken until I was 35 years old in order to arrive at this point.

I can deal with pressure better than Kahn

If I look back on those times and ask myself why I ended up the winner of this battle, one thing occurs to me above all: That I apparently dealt with pressure better than Oliver Kahn. It was a comparison on a high level. We are both driven by ambition. But crucially I had through my move to England developed myself further, while Oliver, following his high point at the 2002 World Cup, had not managed to improve. Perhaps it was also not optimal to have never had competition at his club. I am the complete goalkeeper, and at some point that had to have had an effect.…

Most of my goalkeeping colleagues stare mainly at the ball. Oliver Kahn said in an interview that in order to concentrate, he began in some instances to look just at the ball during a game. It was only then that I really understood why Kahn had not seen and dealt with so many situations earlier: Anyone just looking at the ball only knows where it is, not where it will be.

When I saw the women’s poster I thought: “Oh my God…”

The rendition of the national anthem [before the quarter final against Argentina, ed.] is, like always, a moving moment. We put our hands on each other’s shoulders and look into the stand. Suddenly I think: “Oh my God, what is going on there?” Our wives and girlfriends have put up an enormous poster: “You can do this, we stand behind you!” I think only one thing: “Now they’ll totally lose it! Hopefully my wife did not help make that…”

It was only afterwards that I found that I was not the only one who thought that way. Some of the women apparently had the pressing need to be in the spotlight and couldn’t just leave it to the men on the pitch….

It has come to penalties. Just that morning, we had eaten together and analysed the statistics of Maikel Stevens, the son of my former coach at Schalke, Huub Stevens.

He has a huge database of penalties, from which he made available to us four or five pages on Argentine players. Goalkeeping coach Andy Köpke wrote the most important information down on a small piece of paper, which later had such a large career.

To my surprise, Oliver Kahn comes up to me. “I wish you lots of luck,” he said, “this is now your thing, you are doing this.” It was a wonderful gesture; unfortunately there is no time to appreciate it appropriately as I have to concentrate.

Here comes Fabian Ayala. “Flat right” is written under his name on my note, which I look at like always. I must use that. But how? Trust only in the note? Shortly before he hits the ball, I dive – to the left. Why? No idea. Intuition. He shoots the ball straight into my hands. (…)

Next up is Maxi Rodriguez, his favourite corner: right. I don’t put the note back in the sock properly. Should I simply just let it lie there and pick it up later? No, afterwards an Argentine might come and tear it up or steal it. Somehow I stuff it back in and go into the goal. Approach, dive, shot – 3-2, rubbish. (…)

“Andy, why do your write with a pencil? No one can read that”

Cambiasso steps up. He was a late sub, I did not see much of him during the game. What to do? I look at my by now slightly worn piece of paper. “Andy, why do your write with a pencil? No one can read that!” Frantically I look for Cambiasso’s name – but he is not there.

Suddenly, in a fraction of a second, it occurs to me: Quarter final of the Champions League, Inter Milan against Villarreal, he fired a dangerous free kick over the wall into the left corner. Now he is running up and is already almost at the ball. I hop back to the centre in order to dive from there. “Cambiasso,” I say for the last time and dive. To the left.

My hands connect with the ball. We are through.

I wanted to throw the note away

I get changed and chuck my things like always into a pile in the middle of the changing room. As I go to pack away my gloves, my gaze falls on something scrunched up in the furthest corner of my locker: the note. I smooth it out a little and read again what was written there. “Well,” I think, “it did not do much for me.” I scrunch it up again and look around for a rubbish bin. Because I could not see one straight away, I look at the note again. “Perhaps the children would be pleased to have a souvenir,” I think, and pack it in my goalkeeping bag.…

After the World Cup, Lehmann auctioned off the note for an incredible €1 million in aid of BILD’s Ein Herz Für Kinder charity campaign. Energy firm EnBW bought the piece of paper and donated it to the Haus der Geschichte modern history museum in Bonn.

Juventus stopper Gianluigi Buffon would choose to move to England if the Italians were to show him the exit door at the end of the season. 

The 32-year-old, who remains the world’s most expensive goalkeeper after his move for around £32million from Parma to Juve in 2001, is under contract with the Turin giants for three more years but has been linked with Premier League clubs Arsenal, Manchester United and Manchester City.  

Buffon told Italy’s Sky Sport 24: “If I had to leave, I think England would be my destination.

 ”My desire to leave Juve is equal to that of Juve’s will to have me leave.  

“At this time there is nothing [to discuss] but there are two weeks to go [before the end of the season] and anything can happen.  

“Juve always has the priority and we will see if we will decide for our paths to continue together.”  

The Italy international had great hopes heading into the 2009-10 campaign but has been disappointed with his side’s performances. 

For a second straight year, Juve will finish the season without any silverware and to make matters worse, with no chance of playing in the Champions League next term.  

Last weekend’s 1-1 draw at Catania ended Juve’s hopes of a top-four finish in Serie A and they are seventh in standings with two games remaining.  

“Everyone is to blame as we [the players] have got things wrong as well,” said Buffon. “At the start of the season, we believed that we were a good side, but four or five good results does not make you a champion team.  

“Not everything needs to be redone. There were many good things, and plenty of good players to keep.  

“But there are some things that need to be looked at, otherwise we risk going through several seasons with the same problem.”