Lehmann focused on England

Goalkeeper focused despite gaffes

By Peter Fraser   Last updated: 22nd August 2007

lehmann jens

Lehmann: Focused

I must judge my achievement myself.

Jens Lehmann
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Jens Lehmann insists he can handle the pressure against England at Wembley on Wednesday night.

The German goalkeeper is set to start in the match despite producing two howlers, against Fulham and Blackburn, during Arsenal's start to the new Premier League campaign.

Lehmann, though, is in a focused frame of mind ahead of the meeting with England.

"I have made two mistakes in three games, this is right," said Lehmann.

"The comments do not matter to me. I must judge my achievement myself.

"The mistakes were so simple, unique, that I now have no reason to have to think about my fundamental skill as a goalkeeper.

Desperate

"Apart from these mistakes I have played substantially well. The first mistake occurred in the first ball contact of the season when I had two thoughts all at once.

"This game [against England] is nothing special for me, I can handle it."

Lehmann has also revealed that he is desperate for England to secure qualification for the 2008 European Championship.

England are currently languishing fourth in their qualification group and face crunch ties against Israel and Russia in September, but Lehmann believes the finals would not be the same without manager Steve McClaren's side.

"I hope England qualify for the Euro 2008 finals. A big tournament without them will not be that interesting and I think they will be there," Lehmann added.

"Teams go through different periods but at the end of the day their quality and togetherness will help them to qualify."