Until Oliver Kahn and Jens Lehmann retire, his chances look set to remain reasonably limited for the national side.

But a strong Champions League campaign has certainly done his chances no harm.

He is the character of the Leverkusen team, regularly moved forward into the penalty box in a last-ditch attempt to find the winner.

He also boasts a strong penalty kick and scored nine from the spot in the 1999/2000 Bundesliga campaign.