Jens Lehmann makes a save and strikes a pose. (Getty)

Fresh off the tremendous success of the London Paralympics, former Arsenal and Germany goalkeeper Jens Lehmann has expressed interest in participating in the 2016 Rio Paralympics as a keeper for Germany's blind football team. In Paralympic football, only the team's four outfield players must wear eyeshades to ensure fairness in the varying degrees of visual impairment. Teams are allowed to use a sighted goalkeeper, who cannot leave his penalty area, and one guide positioned off the field.

The Independent reports (and takes a dig at Lehmann):

According to the German newspaper Bild, Lehmann, who will be 46 in 2016, is tempted by the chance to win the first major international title of his career.

"This is very interesting, as long as I am fit to go there," he said.

"In any case, it's okay to talk about it if you are interested."

German Disabled Sports Assocation President Friedhelm Julius Beucher said that such a decision would be discussed privately and the team's coach, Ulrich Pfisterer described Lehmann's potential inclusion as "sensational."

Let's just hope that if Mad Jens does participate he remains on his best behavior and doesn't steal anyone's glasses, use the pitch as a toilet or throw his opponents' boots on top of his net.

Here's video of David Beckham giving blind football a try last year...

Schalke played a friendly against lower division club TuS Erndtebruck, giving newly acquired Ibrahim Afellay, on loan from Barcelona, a chance to show what he can do. When he did just that by hoping over fellow Dutchman and Erndtebruck goalkeeper Jannick von der Heiden to score an easy goal, the keeper got his revenge by putting in a late tackle on Afellay's legs as the ball found the net.

Von der Heiden was booed by fans and was unapologetic after the match, prompting his manager to ban him indefinitely. Afellay only made five appearances for Barcelona last season due to an ACL injury he suffered last September.

This has been the Dirty Tackle of the Day: a chronicling of unfortunate events.

On Friday, Canada beat Panama 1-0 in a World Cup qualifier in Toronto, with a sly quick free kick that caught Panama off guard and allowed Dwayne De Rosario to score from right in front of goal. This win put Canada atop CONCACAF Group C with seven points and left a bitter Panama in second with six.

On Sunday, Canada traveled to Panama for their second and final meeting in this stage and the local fans greeted the team outside their hotel by using "using fireworks, drums, hoking horns and laser pointers" all night to ensure sleep would be difficult. According to Canada's Patrice Bernier, one local told him, "You in my country, this is Panama, this is third war."

Of course, this is all pretty standard fare, especially in CONCACAF World Cup qualifying. But on Monday night, the eve of the match, Panama supporters took it a step further with what Canada Soccer's Twitter feed described as "shocking scenes." "Hundreds of Panamanian fans gathered outside team hotel," it said around midnight. "Noise is deafening."

There were fireworks, sirens, cars filled with speakers blaring music, live bands and a giant mob of people outside the hotel all under the watch of a laid back police force. But as raucous as the crowd was, it also seemed rather peaceful. Just having a good time that happened to disrupt Canada's pre-match rest. "Certainly no 'fair play' in sight," said the CSA, who claim the disruption was "endorsed" by the Panama football federation (FEPAFUT). Meanwhile former Canada goalkeeper and current goalkeeping coach Paul Dolan said, "I have never seen anything this loud, disruptive & orchestrated in my 28 years in CONCACAF!"

Impressive, Panama. Impressive.

Klinsmann feeling confident. (Getty)

Despite Clint Dempsey setting a new U.S. World Cup qualifying record for fastest goal, the U.S. still lost to Jamaica for the first time ever on Friday, making their qualification efforts a bit more difficult. Sitting third, though even with Guatemala on points, in CONCACAF Group A after the loss to Jamaica has caused a bit of doubt to creep in for some U.S. fans, but manager Jurgen Klinsmann is trying to keep his chest puffed out ahead of the rematch.

When asked by a Jamaican reporter what would happen if the U.S. lost again on Tuesday, Klinsmann tried to play it cool. From the AP:

''No, we won't (lose),'' Klinsmann said with a smile. ''Don't worry.''

If Jamaica were starting to feel any complacency by sitting in first place in the group, that quote should give them an extra bit of motivation.

Of course, Klinsmann should be right, whether he should've said it or not. You can never expect a perfect run through CONCACAF World Cup qualifying and the U.S.'s best chance at taking a loss

The incorruptible Richard Kingson (Getty)

Ghana progressed to the knockout phase of the 2006 World Cup, thanks in part to a 2-0 victory over the Czech Republic in Group E. Those three points might not have been secured for the Black Stars, however, if goalkeeper Richard Kingson had succumbed to an offer to throw the game.

Speaking on Emmanuel TV, the broadcast channel of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (an organization that is no stranger to controversy), Kingson claimed he was offered $300,000 to ensure the Czechs won 2-0, but he was persuaded to avoid the bribe by his wife. ESPN reports:

"In the 2006 World Cup in Germany, we were about to play Czech Republic. By then they were the second best in the world.

"A Ghanaian led me to some people to take a bribe and it was this woman [his wife] who delivered me and delivered Ghanaians. I was very confused and I didn't know what to do but I called her and told her. My wife said: 'Richard, I love you not because of your money, so don't get tempted by this offer to lose your

During Euro 2012 and the qualifying process that led up to it, groups of opposing fans tried to get under Cristiano Ronaldo's skin by chanting Leo Messi's name at him. This happened at airports, outside hotels and during matches. And now, Peru fans have decided to give Messi himself a taste of Ronaldo's mild annoyance by chanting "Cristiano, Cristiano" at him as he got off the bus and entered Argentina's hotel ahead of Tuesday's World Cup qualifier.

Suddenly Cristiano Ronaldo isn't so sad anymore...

Rafa Benitez commands attention during his time at Inter. (Getty)

It has now been over a year and a half since Rafa Benitez was last a football manager. Today he spends his time as a TV pundit and blogger. In the period since he was sacked by Liverpool in June of 2010, the club's struggles have continued, with the Benitez's successors, Roy Hodgson and Kenny Dalglish, both getting the sack themselves. Though some fans have wanted Benitez back, Brendan Rodgers got the Liverpool job instead. Even though Rafa was apparently staring at his phone and waiting for it to ring (or vibrate).

From the Irish Independent:

Last summer, Liverpool had a vacancy but they chose not to talk to their former manager. It may be best for all sides to consider new challenges but Benitez believes it was odd that he wasn't contacted.

"It was strange," he says. "We know the club, the players, the Academy and we have even more experience now. The fans were positive about the idea and if you read the book [his new book Champions League Dreams] you will understand why. So it was

Tunisia visited Sierra Leone's National Stadium over the weekend for the third round of Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. Things were going well for the visitors for approximately seven minutes, at which point Tunisian striker Saber Khelifa demonstrated the correct way to kick the ball into your own face and set up a goal for the opposition.

The 25-year-old, who plays for Ligue 1 side Evian, attempted a simple overhead clearance, but apparently failed to account for the fact that he has a head on his shoulders. Sierra Leone's Sheriff Suma picked up the stray ball for the opener, but Khelifa's blushes were partially saved as his side managed to pull off a 2-2 draw.

H/T: 101GG

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