(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-12-17 09:45

BERLIN - Germany goalkeeper Jens Lehmann's crumpled cheat sheet that helped him save penalties against Argentina in the 2006 World Cup quarter-final shootout raised one million euros ($1.3 million) for charity on Saturday.



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German national soccer team goal keeper Jens Lehmann tries to make a save during a team practice session in Kuehlungsborn October 8, 2006. Lehmann's crumpled cheat sheet that helped him save penalties against Argentina in the 2006 World Cup quarter-final shootout raised one million euros ($1.3 million) for charity. [Reuters]


Lehmann saved two penalties with the help of the note which he stuffed in his sock. Studying the paper between each kick may have unnerved the Argentines and helped Germany reach the semi-finals, where they lost to eventual champions Italy.

"I didn't realise the importance of the note at the time but after the match I saw it lying on the locker room floor next to my socks and thought I should hold on to it," Lehmann said in a ZDF television interview on Saturday.

A German utility, Energie Baden-Wuerttenberg, donated one million euros to a children's charity for the note scribbled on a small pad from the Schlosshotel in Berlin where the Germany team stayed. Lehmann handed it over personally on Saturday.

It was written by goalkeeping coach Andreas Koepke and gave tips on the likely habits of the penalty takers such as Riquelme left high, Heinze left low, Ayala long wait, long run right.

The energy company said it would donate the cheat sheet, which became a symbol for Germany's unexpected run to the semi-final, to the German history museum in Bonn.

Lehmann said at the time the note was hard to read because it was written in pencil and damp with sweat.