I am still Germany's number one, says Kahn

BERLIN, March 6 (Reuters) Goalkeeper Oliver Kahn, fighting with Jens Lehmann for the number one spot in the Germany team for the World Cup, believes he still has the edge over his rival.

''The national team coach told me again recently that I was the number one and would remain the number one as long as I kept performing well,'' the Bayern keeper told today's issue of German soccer magazine Kicker.

Germany coach Juergen Klinsmann, however, said he would not decide the battle of the goalkeepers until the end of the Bundesliga season.

Klinsmann, under fire since a shock 4-1 friendly defeat by Italy last week, rejected a magazine report that he had picked Arsenal's Lehmann over Kahn.

''The situation remains that Jens is Oliver's challenger and that both still stand a chance,'' Klinsmann told the German Football Association (DFB) website.

''No decision will be taken before the end of the season,'' he added.

Kahn, who led Germany to the 2002 World Cup final against Brazil, and Lehmann, long Kahn's understudy, have been involved in a testy duel for the goalkeeper position since Klinsmann took charge in 2004 and said the job was open for both.

REUTERS AY PM1946