In the end, every gesture, every tiny nuance of those involved was being analyzed by the entire nation. Only months before German hosts this summer's World Cup, the process of deciding who would be the national soccer team goalkeeper became the Teutonic sporting equivalent of watching the papal conclave in Rome.

Since Friday it's been known that German coach Jürgen Klinsmann chose the previous number two national team keeper Jens Lehmann over long-standing first choice goalie Oliver Kahn -- igniting a nationwide debate about the implications for not only those players, but also the upcoming tournament and the German team's prospects.

"This was the most difficult decision of my time as coach," Klinsmann told a press conference. "Of course, Oliver is disappointed, but he took it like a real sportsman."

Despite managing to become runner-up to Brazil in the 2002 World Cup, German soccer has had a dire balance in recent years. Repeatedly humiliated on the pitch when playing football nations both great and small, for many German fans, the only bright spot has been world-class goalkeeping embodied by Bayern Munich's Kahn. He was long considered the favorite to reprise his role as Germany's last man, but after Klinsmann became national team coach almost two years ago he decided to bring Lehmann from London's Arsenal FC into the mix as a prospective challenger.

The ensuing "goalie war" didn't sit well with many, including Germany's powerful three Bs: Kahn's employer Bayern Munich, German soccer legend and World Cup organizer Franz Beckenbauer and the country's most read newspaper -- the populist and sensationalist Bild.

Thirty-six-year-old Kahn had been Germany's last line of defense at the national level since 1998. He'd been voted "World Goalkeeper of the Year" three times. Amidst the national squad's feeble attack and wobbly and inexperienced defense, Kahn's reflex saves on the line were often one of the German game's few bright spots. But "Kahn the Titan" certainly wasn't infallible and his sense of entitlement would eventually be his downfall. If it wasn't obvious to him, it became so to many others in recent months that Lehmann's more modern style of play was a better fit with Klinsmann's plans to overhaul the German game. At Arsenal, he's more a part of the team's wider defense rather than the loner between the goalposts that Kahn is at Bayern. He has also been able to help mold a highly successful young back line at the London club in recent months -- a feat Klinsmann is clearly hoping he can help him repeat with the young defenders of the German national team.

Ahead of an international friendly against the United States last month in Dortmund, Lehmann appeared to command the defensive players like pieces on a chessboard -- even though Kahn was actually nominated to play that match. It was then that it was clear to many national players that they weren't practicing for the friendly against the Americans, they were preparing for the World Cup with the man who would be Germany's goalkeeper.

Ironically, it was some of Kahn's biggest boosters that ended up pushing him out of the top spot. Despite playing at Bayern himself in the 90s, Klinsmann has no fan club in Munich. As the realization spread that he might pick Lehmann to start this summer, Bayern officials began pushing the coach to decide the goalie question now instead of waiting until May as he wanted.

No help from Bayern

Bayern Munich manager Uli Hoeness, never one to think much before sounding off, set up the death blow by saying Kahn's recent poor showing on the pitch was the result of the "psychological terror" resulting from pressure from the national team: "That's how an overly ambitious keeper plays who is afraid he's going to lose his spot."

And so he was and so he did. Of course, to be fair to Lehmann, it appears he has matured greatly over his tenure in London. Only days before the decision was made he pointed out that he had been benched not for making any grave errors, but simply for "an average" performance last season at Arsenal. He accepted it and came back a more balanced player. He can still be prone to outbursts -- even against his own players including Arsenal captain Thierry Henry. However, he still beats Kahn the screamer for on pitch communication skills.