Oliver Kahn's outburst at being second string goalkeeper for Germany reflects the frustrations of being a reserve at the World Cup finals. While outfield players can realistically think they could come on as a substitute during a match the second choice goalkeeper has to wait for a catastrophic error by his senior to even have a hope of entering the fray. Kahn has cut a grumpy looking figure on the bench as he has watched his replacement and bitter enemy Jens Lehmann concede just two goals in the four matches so far and evidently it has all been too much for the 38-year-old. "I have told him (Klinsmann) clearly that I will never comprehend why I am no longer number one," said Kahn, who was number one choice when Germany made the 2002 final losing 2-0 to Brazil. "I would have expected a full explanation. But as there has not been one yet, there probably never will be." Some have borne the frustration at being second choice well. Peter Shilton had to wait years to displace Ray Clemence in between the sticks for England eventually getting the nod from the late Ron Greenwood over Clemence in for the 1982 World Cup. He then enjoyed a golden patch under Bobby Robson reaching the 1986 quarter-finals and 1990 semi-finals. Shilton did, though, lose patience at one point with one of Robson's predecessors Don Revie, who chose Clemence for three years till he upped and left the England post for a lucrative one in the Gulf. "That was my lowest," admitted Shilton to the Malehealth website. "I was frustrated and aggrieved. Revie said there was nothing between me and Ray yet he never gave me a chance to show what I could do. "Brian Clough was always a big fan of mine and he didn't get on with Revie, so maybe there was something in that," added England's record caps holder, who played for Clough at Nottingham Forest. Gregory Coupet has also found being declared second choice 'keeper behind the ageing Fabien Barthez far from satisfactory as the 33-year-old five-time domestic champion with Lyon had justifiable claims that he should be the number one for this World Cup. "I expect to be given an explanation, because when I was told the news I didn't really think about asking questions," said Coupet at the time he was told he was second best. "I've got a reason to be annoyed, haven't I?" His annoyance eventually got the better of him when at the late May training camp he packed his bags and drove off only to be persuaded to return by his club fitness trainer, who is also a member of the French backroom team. Sometimes, though, the second string 'keeper can step up to the plate when prevailed upon as Shaka Hislop displayed for Trinidad and Tobago in the 0-0 draw with Sweden earlier in the tournament. However one man who really did make a name for himself in the 1990 tournament was Argentina's Sergio Goycochea, who took full advantage of Nery Pumpido's double fracture of the shinbone in the defending champions opening defeat by Cameroon. As Diego Maradona had done for Argentina in 1986 so Goycochea dragged an uninspiring and increasingly cynical side to the final with outstanding saves in penalty shootouts with Yugoslavia in the quarter-finals and hosts Italy in the semi-final. However he was unable to stop another spot kick by Andreas Brehme that made the difference in the final with West Germany. Such near fairytale endings will be the thing that keeps those warming the benches with their gloves at the ready hoping their time will come.
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