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LEHMANN CALLS TIME ON GERMANY
Lehmann - has played last game for Germany.
Germany goalkeeper Jens Lehmann has announced his retirement from international football.
The 38-year-old made the announcement on Friday afternoon following a two-hour meeting with Germany coach Joachim Low and his assistant Andreas Kopke.
The decision brings to an end a 10-year international career, the final game of which came in Germany's 1-0 defeat to Spain in the final of Euro 2008.
In a statement on the Germany Football Association (DFB) website, Lehmann revealed his decision had been made after he could not guarantee his long-term future in the meeting with Low and Kopke.
Lehmann had previously mooted retiring from the game before signing a 12-month deal with Bundesliga club
Stuttgart following his departure from Arsenal last season.
"I can't guarantee that I will still be playing football beyond the 12 months of my contract with Stuttgart," Lehmann said.
"Therefore, I suggested that the Germany team no longer include me in their plans. I have had a great time with them, and the 2006 World Cup was a particularly special experience."
Lehmann's decision comes less than a fortnight after he denied speculation he was set to stand down.
"I heard about all this generation change in goal while on holiday and that I should explain my position, but I ask myself why should I reach a decision anyway?" he said.
"I will talk with (Germany coach) Joachim Low."
That conversation has seemingly crystallised Lehmann's decision to end his international career, with Low agreeing it was the right time to look to new blood between the posts ahead of Germany's 2010 World Cup qualification campaign.
Low added: "We had a very good conversation and we were on the same wavelength.
"I thanked Jens for his great service to the team. He has done a lot for German football and was always an important part of the dressing room."
Lehmann made 61 appearances for his country during an international career that was largely overshadowed by the presence of Olivier Kahn.
The duo were involved in a number of public spats as they fought for the number one jersey, although the tensions between the two had seemed to have simmered during the 2006 World Cup in Germany when Lehmann was preferred by Jurgen Klinsmann as his number one goalkeeper.
At the time both players sought to play down their rivalry as Lehmann helped Germany reach the semi-finals where they lost to eventual champions Italy in extra time.
The leading candidates to take over from Lehmann include Bayer Leverkusen's 23-year-old goalkeeper Rene Adler and Hannover's Robert Enke, both of whom were a part of Germany's Euro 2008 squad.
Germany's next match is a friendly against Belgium in Nurnberg on August 20 before they begin their World Cup campaign against Liechtenstein on September 6.
Factfile:
1969: Born November 10, Essen.
1988: Started professional career with Schalke.
1997: Won UEFA Cup with Schalke, saving Ivan Zamorano's spot-kick in the penalty shoot-out against Internazionale in the final.
1998: February - Made his Germany debut in a 2-0 friendly win against Oman in Muscat.
July - Joined AC Milan but made a nightmare start and was dropped after five games.
1999: Left AC Milan during the winter of the 1998/99 season for Borussia Dortmund.
2002: Won Bundesliga with Dortmund.
2003: July - joined Arsenal as a replacement for David Seaman. Played every league match as the Gunners went unbeaten for the entire 2003/04 season.
2005: May - Put in a superb performance to help Arsenal beat Manchester United in the FA Cup final, saving Paul Scholes' penalty in the shoot-out.
2006: April - Saved an 89th-minute penalty in the Champions League semi-final against Villarreal to secure a place in the final.
May - However, his final in Paris lasted just 18 minutes as he was sent off for bringing down Barcelona's Samuel Eto'o. He was still named Champions League Goalkeeper of the Year after going more than 850 minutes without conceding a goal.
July - Lehmann is preferred to Olivier Khan as Germany's goalkeeper at the World Cup. He helped Jurgen Klinsmann's side to a third-place finish after losing to eventual champions Italy in the semi-finals.
2007: April - signed a one-year contract extension with Arsenal. Started the 2007/08 season but a series of errors led to him being replaced by Manuel Almunia.
2008: June - Signed a one-year contract with Stuttgart.
June/July - Played for Germany at Euro 2008, where they lost 1-0 to Spain in the final.
July 30 - Made Stuttgart debut in a friendly match against Arsenal.
August 8: Announced international retirement, ending weeks of speculation.
