Lehmann keeps penalty secret tucked away

Jul 1, 2006, 19:04 GMT

Berlin - A little note tucked into a sock helped Jens Lehmann save two of the penalties in the shoot-out against Argentina, goalkeeper coach Andreas Koepke revealed Saturday.

'Everything went as we planned,' Koepke told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa a day after the dramatic quarter-final in Berlin.

Lehmann had put the note into his right sock. Jotted down were the Argentina penalty takers and which side of the goal they preferred to shoot. The Arsenal keeper had time to glance at the note between kicks - and dived right each time.

'It was a bit of practical help. We had made sure we knew about the Argentinian penalty takers,' said Koepke.

The note had included the names of substitute Esteban Cambiasso and defender Roberto Ayala who both saw their shots saved by Lehmann.

'Of course, a goalkeeper has to follow his feelings but we don't allow anything to chance,' said Koepke.

Lehmann had little to say about his goalkeeping heroics, but left the stadium no doubt impressed by a gesture from his long-time rival Oliver Kahn.

Kahn had put his arm around Lehmann and said a few words of encouragement before the shoot-out, and afterwards the Bayern Munich keeper gave him a brief hug in congratulation.

'I heard what Olli said to Jens but I am not revealing what it was,' said Koepke. 'It was a great gesture, for me the scene of the tournament.'