UNITED KINGDOM: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Germany and Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann unfazed by recent errors ahead of England clash at Wembley

Germany and Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann says that he is not concerned about his recent blunders as he prepares to face England at Wembley. Germany and Arsenal Goalkeeper Jens Lehmann said that he was not concerned about his recent form on Tuesday (August 21) at a News Conference in London, ahead of Wednesday's International Friendly against england at Wembley. Lehmann told reporters that he felt that he had played fariley well in his first three games of the season with the exception of his two key errors. "I am never concerned. I do my best," Lehmann said. Germany will be without some of their regular starting eleven for Wednesday's (August 22) match. The injury list includes captain Michael Ballack of Chelsea and Bayern Munich striker Miroslav Klose, who picked up a knee injury during his side's 4-0 victory over Werder Bremen on Sunday. "I just heard that Klose, Ballack and Frings are missing and of course, it has been said before, they are main players for us in central positions and its always a bit difficult to replace them, but we will see how the other players that come in can cope with it." Klose's place in the Germany squad has been taken by Stefan Kiessling who will partner Kevin Kuranyi of Schalke 04 in attack for the first time. Germany Team Manager Oliver Bierhoff was confident that such a grand stage would provide the young striker with a good opportunity to learn at the highest level. "He is a young player with a great attitude who naturally has things to learn and that is why these friendly games are so useful, providing an opportunity for young players to gain experience at international level. I think at the end of the day that he is in very good hands at Leverkusen, that move from Nuremberg to Leverkusen was a good step and I look on it in a very positive fashion, and we just hope to see him progress as he gets older. He has already shown his potential in the second part of last season and I hope he will continue to do so. Not simply because Euro 2008 is just around the corner but also because Leverkusen have high hopes of doing something in the league this season and also in the UEFA cup." Bierhoff told reporters. England have only met a unified Germany nine times in international football, the last occasion being in 2001 when England won a World Cup qualifier 5-1 in Munich. They played West Germany on 16 occasions, the most famous meeting being the 1966 World Cup final and the rivalry makes any meeting, even a friendly, a eagerly-anticipated prospect. The Germans beat England 1-0 in the last match played at the old Wembley Stadium in October 2000 before it was demolished. After Brazil were England's first opponents at the new stadium in June, the Germans are the first Europeans to face England there. Germany have beaten England four times at Wembley, more than any other foreign country.

ITN Source | August 22, 2007

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