MATT LAWTON'S EURO BLOG: Bitter Lehmann leaves a nasty taste in the mouth

They say first impressions last and I'll always remember the first time I came into contact with Germany's goalkeeper.

It was after Arsenal had contested an FA Cup semi-final at Villa Park and I asked him if he had a minute.

'You've got 60 seconds,' he snapped back, which would have been funny were it not for the fact that he meant it.

The interview pretty much ended there. I certainly couldn't be bothered to speak to him.

Dislikeable: Lehmann in a fit of pique

But what really lets him down is the way he often conducts himself in a professional capacity. His ludicrously aggressive response to a situation on the pitch and the manner, in particular, in which he dealt with being dropped by Arsene Wenger last season. 

I had the pleasure of interviewing Manuel Almunia earlier this year and he was utterly charming. But he began to bristle with anger at my mention of the way Lehmann had treated him. 

Lehmann broke the code of respect that exists among goalkeepers when he publicly expressed his outrage at being omitted for someone he considered so inferior to himself.

It led to the two so called team-mates not even speaking to each other - which takes some doing when goalkeepers often train separately from the rest of the group - and in the end persuaded Wenger to let the German leave. Wenger is an honourable man and you just know he would have objected to Lehmann's ultimately disruptive behaviour. 

The same arrogant German emerged in the interview area in Basel last night.

There was no real sympathy for Turkey. The Germans were simply better than them. And there was no acknowledgement of the fact that he actually had a shocker.

Clanger: Lehmann gifts Turkey their second goal

Both Turkey's goals represented major blunders on his part and I wouldn't be surprised if Joachim Loew is a little concerned about his keeper as he looks ahead to Sunday's final.

Remember, Joachim old chap, what happened in the 2006 Champions League final. Remember how Lehmann got himself sent off. 

I'm sure he won't decide to drop him, but if he did I'd say it couldn't happen to a nicer bloke.