Al Jaber - aiming to score again (Allsport).

By Jason Hughes, PA International, Sapporo

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Saudi Arabia striker Sami Al Jaber wants to finish his international career on a high by scoring in his third successive World Cup finals.

The former Wolves frontman has decided to end an illustrious career with the national side that has seen him score 38 goals in 148 games.

"I will not retire totally, but I think it is time that I stop playing international football," said the 29-year-old.

"I think it is right that I have chosen a World Cup for my last games because it is something that you never forget."

However Al Jaber, who will spearhead the Saudi attack in their Group E opener against Germany on Saturday, is ready to give up his personal dream for the good of the team.

"My aim is to score in a third World Cup, but the first thing is to help Saudi Arabia win," he said.

"It is not important whether I score or someone else does, but it is important that we win."

The Saudis, who had never been at a World Cup before USA 94, are considered the underdogs in a group which also contains African champions Cameroon and the Republic of Ireland, who pipped Holland in qualifying.

Al Jaber, though, admits it hurts that other teams see them as the easiest opposition in the group.

"They are all really looking to get our three points," he said.

"I know they are looking at us as the weakest team in the group, but football is not a case of big and small."

And Al Jaber, the first Saudi player to play in England when he joined Wolves on loan two years ago, was ready with a warning for three-time champions Germany.

"They want to get an easy win, but this is football and it is not easy to do it like that," said Al Jaber, who now plays in his homeland with Al Hilal.

"You do not get three points before a game has even started. It's not going to happen."

If we don't have a chance to win tomorrow, we would not have qualified for this World Cup."

Germany themselves come into the competition, with few people expecting them to add to their haul of World Cups.

But Al Jaber still believes they will pose a threat despite losing five players, including Jens Nowotny, Mehmet Scholl and Sebastian Deisler, through injury.

He said: "Germany are still Germany and they know how to deal with the World Cup.

"Even if they are not as good, they have still reached the finals and they have a lot of experience."