Oliver Kahn has been a star for Germany (Allsport).

By Paul Walker, PA Sport, Seoul

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Oliver Kahn is rightly regarded as the world's best goalkeeper, living up to that reputation in the quarter-final as he repelled everything the United States could throw at him.

His value to Germany's ambitions in the Far East was summed up by coach Rudi Voller immediately after the quarter-final.

"If we wanted to get far in this World Cup, we knew we could only do that with a fantastic Oliver Kahn," said Voller.

Kahn, who was winning his 50th cap against the USA, embarked on his journey to the very pinnacle of his profession at the age of six in 1975 with home town club Karlsruhe.

Kahn was later inspired by a Sepp Maier goalkeeping collection he received as a present, and so he worked his way up through the ranks before finally making his Bundesliga debut in 1990.

In 1994, he signed for Bayern Munich in 1994 for £1.6million, a fee which still represents a German record for a keeper.

Over the last eight years Kahn has built up a collection of personal accolades, in conjunction with helping Bayern Munich win a number of trophies, including the European Cup last year when he emerged the hero with three penalty shoot-out saves to help beat Valencia.

International recognition, though, eluded him for some time. Despite making his debut in 1995 against Switzerland, he was forced to act as understudy to Bodo Illgner and then Andreas Kopke at USA 94, Euro 96 and France 98.

When Kopke retired at the end of the World Cup in France, Kahn was finally given his chance to make the number one shirt his own - and he has not looked back since.