Between the sticks

KING Kahn. Jens Lehmann.

Australian football fans would be well aware of these two great goalkeeping names from previous World Cups.

But with Kahn fully retired and Lehmann having hung up his national team gloves, are devotees of the Socceroos even aware of who’ll stand in the last line between them, and Group D glory when our Durban date against the Deutsche rolls round on June 13?

Sadly, I’d suggest many wouldn’t be able to give a reasonable answer to this question. A-League and EPL-minded folk will learn it, then spruik it, in the days leading up to the Socceroos opener, thanks to paper’s finally giving coverage of our group stage rivals when they really should be informing the masses now.

So, for those of you who want to get ahead of the curve, here are the top four contenders for the German number 1 jersey in South Africa*. Unlike Pim Verbeek, Deutsche boss Joachim Löw still has a decision to make on his starting stopper…and he’s certainly not short on quality.

1. René Adler (Bayer Leverkusen)
Adler will be 25 by next June and is well positioned to have a seriously long tenure as Germany ‘keeper. He won the mantle for best stopper in the Bundesliga in 2008 and sat on the bench behind Lehmann and Robert Enke as Germany finished runner up at Euro 2008. Solid form in the New Year will help this young custodians cause.

2. Manuel Neuer (Shalke 04)
At just 23, Manuel Neuer has already made over 100 appearances for his beloved Shalke 04. While his German national team appearances are more modest at two, in November he was the only German ‘keeper in a list of five to be nominated for UEFA team of the year. Alongside Adler, Neuer is a hot chance.

3. Tim Wiese (Werder Bremen)
At 27, Wiese is a veteran compared to Adler and Neuer. But, having been involved in the most recent squad – a friendly against Ivory Coast – will consider himself unlucky if he doesn’t at least make the plane to Johannesburg. Champions League followers may well remember his serious gaffe against Juventus three years ago – he spilled a routine save to allow Emerson to score and the Old Lady to move through to the quarter finals at the expense of his side. He’s a volatile character too, so Löw would be chancing his arm if he went with Wiese.

4. Timo Hilderbrand (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim)
Always the bridesmaid, never the bride - this is the story of 30-year-old Timo Hilderbrand. Having sat on the bench behind Kahn and Lehmann at Euro 2004, Confederations Cup 2005, and World Cup 2006, Hilderbrand’s torrid time at Valencia in 2007/08 means he hasn’t featured for Germany since. But, a move back to the Bundesliga a year ago has reignited the custodian, and there have been calls inside Germany recently that he deserves another chance.

*Until his recent, tragic suicide, Robert Enke, formerly of Hannover 96, was favoured to claim the first-choice ‘keepers spot in South Africa.