Lehmann quits world stage

BERLIN: Jens Lehmann brought the curtain down on his international career on Friday, giving Germany coach Joachim Loew time to blood a new goalkeeper before the 2010 World Cup.

The 38-year-old keeper, who won 61 caps, held talks with Loew before making his decision, the German Soccer Federation (DFB) said in a statement on its website (www.dfb.de).

"I could no longer give the coach a guarantee I would still be playing football after my one-year contract with VfB Stuttgart expires," Lehmann was quoted as saying.