Klinsmann took away the captaincy from Kahn and give it to Ballack. He then fired Kahn ally Sepp Maier as goalkeeping coach and began to alternate Kahn and Lehmann from game to game. This only increased tensions between the two, who were never friends and who often feuded publicly.

Finally, in April, Klinsmann picked Lehmann to be his No. 1.

Lehmann had a standout year for Arsenal, helping the club reach the Champions League final with 10 straight shutouts.

Kahn, usually seen as egoistical, surprised the nation a few days later when he accepted to be Lehmann's understudy at the World Cup, saying he felt the team needed him.

Kahn admitted he was having a hard time sitting on the dugout but stoically accepted his role.

"It was a special challenge for me personally to deal with all these things, to sit on the bench and watch, to deal with the frustration, while not letting it show and helping the young players where you can," Kahn said. "That maybe did more for me than if I had played."

The 36-year-old Lehmann was Kahn's understudy at the World Cup in 1998 and 2002, and the European Championship in 2000 and 2004, but never entered a game.

The pair appear to have improved their relationship during the World Cup.

Moments before the team's quarterfinal shootout against Argentina, Kahn left the bench to clasp Lehmann's hand and speak a few words of encouragement. After Lehmann helped the hosts to a 4-2 win in the shootout, the two briefly embraced.

A few days later, after Lehmann allowed two late goals in the semifinal with Italy, Kahn walked through the Italian celebrations and hugged Lehmann.

"It's a wonderful story of two rivals for the same position. Even though it hurt Oliver a great deal not to be between the posts," Klinsmann said. "It shows they have commendable character and they are fantastic guys."

Kahn said he had learned from coming off second best for once and would now focus on winning more honors with Bayern in the last two years of his contract.

"Jens has performed outstandingly during the World Cup, after he had to sit for many years on the bench. He knows how it feels," Kahn said. "I think this World Cup went well for both of us."