Ballack backs Lehmann for Germany

Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack believes Jens Lehmann deserves to be Germany’s number one at Euro 2008.

The goalkeeper has barely featured for Arsenal this season, having lost his place to Manuel Almunia.

But he put in an assured display in Germany’s 4-0 friendly win over European Championship co-hosts Switzerland in Basle on Wednesday night to go a record 621 minutes without conceding a goal for the national team.

Germany coach Joachim Low has a number of up-and-coming keepers he can call on, including Bayer Leverkusen’s Rene Adler and Schalke’s Manuel Neuer, as well as the more experienced Timo Hildebrand from Valencia, but Ballack feels Lehman is justifiably the first choice.

Ballack told the Bild newspaper: “It is of course silly if you don’t play for your club.

“But Jens has shown that he is the right man to keep goal. I believe there will be no more talk about it in the lead up to the championships.”