Lehmann wants Germany swansong against England

Former Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann said Sunday he wants to make his final bow in the Germany shirt against England next month in the international friendly at Berlin's Olympic Stadium.

The 38-year-old announced his retirement from die Mannschaft on August 8 having played in June's Euro 2008 final, but the VfB Stuttgart goalkeeper now wants to make his final farewell against England on November 19.

“I would like to play against England, the opponent is one close to my heart after all these years in London (with Arsenal),” Lehmann told Sunday's edition of Die Welt.

“I am impatient to see how the people react if I say farewell at this game,” he added.

Lehmann spent five years at Arsenal, but lost his place in the side last season and moved to Stuttgart last summer.

He won 61 caps for his country and is no stranger to Berlin's Olympic Stadium having helped Germany reach the 2006 World Cup semi-finals by saving two penalties to help beat Argentina there in the quarter-final penalty shoot-out.

Germany's goalkeeper trainer, Andreas Koepke, has said Lehmann's involvement for the friendly against England is possible, but not yet decided by national coach Joachim Loew.