Third-choice German keeper to face Argentina

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June 20, 2005 21:09 IST

Third-choice goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand will play his first competitive match for Germany when they face Argentina in the Confederations Cup on Tuesday.

Hildebrand is behind Oliver Kahn and Jens Lehmann in the pecking order, but with Germany assured of a place in the semi-finals whatever the result of the final Group A game in Nuremberg he will get a chance before the top two return.

"Timo will play because he's left an outstanding impression on us in training over the past three weeks," said Germany's assistant coach Joachim Loew.

Head coach Juergen Klinsmann has yet to decide on who will be the number one at next year's World Cup and he will continue to rotate his goalkeepers at the Confederations Cup.

Loew said on Monday the plan was for Lehmann to play the semi-final, with Kahn coming back to play either the final or the third-place match.

Hildebrand, the 26-year-old VfB Stuttgart keeper, has played twice for Germany before, in friendly internationals against Romania and Thailand.

"I didn't expect to play in this tournament at all, and that makes it all the more special," said Hildebrand, who is 10 years younger than Kahn and nine years Lehmann's junior.

"It's normal for a goalkeeper to have to wait. You always have to be patient."

Germany and Argentina both have maximum points from their two games so far, leaving Tuesday's game a straight shoot-out for first place in the group.

Mexico have clinched qualification from Group B, with the second place up for grabs between Brazil and Japan.

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