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Posted: Wednesday, June  26, 2002

Kahn - the best goalkeeper in the world?

Oliver Kahn ... he's done more to keep Germany in the Cup than anyone.

Ireland's Robbie Keane must be hailed as one of the greatest strikers in the 2002 World Cup - for the Irishman has done what no one else in the tournament has managed - put a goal past German captain and goalkeeper Oliver Kahn.

Keane leapt onto a head on from Niall Quinn and from close range hit a shot that even Kahn could not stop.

As the Irish celebrated, Kahn was telling his defence exactly what he thought of them.

Failure, in any form is not a word the 33-year-old accepts.

And as Germany marched relentlessly towards the World Cup final in search of their fourth title the praises began to be heaped on the Bayern Munich keeper.

American coach Bruce Arena paid tribute to the brilliance of Kahn when he single handedly kept the United States at bay and send them packing off home in the quarter-finals.

"Oliver Kahn made the difference here," Arena said after the United States lost 1-0.

"He made a string of saves and kept them in the game," said Arena, stunned at Germany's ability to survive intense pressure for nearly all the game.

"If we had got a goal we could have put them under a lot of pressure but they came through and that is the strength of their team.

"The match was about chances. We had a lot but could not score. The Germans had two and converted one and that was the difference."

Even German coach Rudi Voller was quick to concede after the US match the role Kahn had played in a keeping a very ordinary side still in football's most glittering tournament.

"Oliver Kahn saved our lives so many times in the first half. We knew if we wanted to get far in this World Cup then we needed a fantastic Oliver Kahn," Voeller said.

"I think we are pretty lucky to have got into the semi-finals, but I am not happy with the performance."

But perhaps the greatest compliment to Kahn in the Korea-Japan World Cup came from fellow goalkeeper Jose Luis Chilavert.

Not a man known for his modesty, Chilavert surprised everyone when he allowed Kahn to be put alongside him on his pedestal.

"The two best goalkeepers in the world: Kahn and Chilavert," said the South American before watching Paraguay going down to Germany.

Playing in probably his last World Cup, it has been a hard road for the no-nonsense Kahn.

First capped in 1995 against Switzerland, he had to spend the next three years playing second fiddle to Andreas Kopke.

It was only when Kopke announced his retirement at the end of France'98 that Kahn finally became Germany's number one goalkeeper.

Kahn has revelled in it.

He was voted German footballer of the year in 2000 and the best goalkeeper in Europe.

If he can keep a clean sheet in Sunday's final he will be in line for the award of best player of the 2002 World Cup.