Lehmann set for Swiss role

Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann will be given the chance to prove he is fit and fully motivated when Germany face Switzerland tonight, despite his lack of regular first-team football.

Lehmann remains second choice for the Gunners behind Manuel Almunia, but is set to be confirmed as Germany’s number one for the European Championships this summer.

He has received support from his biggest rival for the position in recent years, Oliver Kahn, who retired from the national team after the last World Cup.

Before that competition, he and Lehmann had had a bitter feud, but Kahn now has no doubts in his former rival’s qualities.

“I see no reason to make changes,” he said. “We don’t have to worry at all about this position.

“Jens knows the situation and the pressure and he can deal with it very well and with a good game, everything will calm down.”

Lehmann has been confirmed as a starter in Basle with Hannover’s Robert Enke and Valencia’s Timo Hildebrand both on the bench despite the fact they are playing regularly for their clubs.

And Germany coach Joachim Low is convinced Lehmann will repay his faith in him.

He said: “We have no reason to have any doubts in Jens, even if he was not so good in Austria. He made some excellent saves during the European Championship qualifiers and he will do so again tonight.”