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Kahn to be named German skipper

kahn germany world cup Goalkeeper Oliver Kahn will replace striker Oliver Bierhoff as Germany captain, coach Rudi Voeller said in an interview with Bild am Sonntag.
'We want to bring calm into the team with this decision so that the issue isn't brought up before every game,' Voeller said in the interview, to be published on Sunday.

Bierhoff has increasingly found himself on the national team bench rather than in the starting line-up while Kahn, his deputy until now, has become steadily more accustomed to wearing the captain's armband.

The 33-year-old Bierhoff recently moved from AC Milan to AS Monaco to guarantee more regular first team football. Bierhoff, who won the first of his 59 caps in February 1996, replaced Juergen Klinsmann as captain in September 1998

Kahn, aged 32 and with 41 caps, has kept goal for the Germans for much of the time since 1995.

Voeller, who said he had contacted both players, said Bierhoff would remain part of the German squad as it bids for a fourth World Cup at the finals in Korea and Japan this year.

'There are a lot of very tough teams in the competition, like France or Spain for example, but with the players we have got and judging by the way we played in the qualifying tournament we must be one of the big favourites.'

Argentina have been drawn to play England, Nigeria and Sweden in group F at the tournament in Korea and Japan.

The pint-sized forward, who has notched eight league goals this term, also believes that despite a recent dip in form Barcelona can still challenge Real Madrid for the championship

'There are still plenty of games left and it seems like every weekend a team at the top loses a game or another one moves up into the reckoning, so we're still in with a good chance and we will continue to fight for the title.