Sami Al-Jaber finds it hard to take in his achievements as one of Asian football's most successful strikers.

Saudi Arabia's game against Tunisia will see the former Wolves forward taking part in his fourth World Cup finals, equalling the Asian record set by Hong Myung-Bo, who led South Korea to the semi-finals four years ago.

During that time he has experienced the highs of the Saudis qualifying for the knockout phase at the first attempt in the United States in 1994, and the lows of an 8-0 trouncing by Germany four years ago.

"Sometimes when I close my eyes it's just like it's 1994. It's just like yesterday," the 33-year-old said. "But it's something I'm really proud of.

"Now it's a different generation but I can't believe I've made it for 12 years and for four World Cups. I'm so happy and very excited. I want to finish my career with a good level, not like in 2002."

Saudi Arabia's last appearance at the World Cup was a disaster both for the team and Al-Jaber.

The thrashing by Germany came in their opening match in the Sapporo Dome, and shortly after the game ended Al-Jaber was rushed to hospital with a burst appendix. An operation ruled him out of the remaining games against Cameroon and the Republic of Ireland.

"I don't think there was enough preparation, there was not enough concentration," he said. "There were many mistakes before the competition.

"It happened from the administration, from the technical staff and from the players and I think we didn't really concentrate and I don't think that we believed that we were playing in the World Cup and we got a bad result against Germany.

"I think it hurt a lot of people and one of them was me. I didn't expect that this would happen at the World Cup and it was a shame but this is now in the past and we should think about what's happening now."

Al-Jaber quit the Saudi national team after the last World Cup, however he returned almost two-and-a-half years later.

He had shone in the Saudi league for Al Hilal and his impact was immediate, scoring in the World Cup qualifier against Uzbekistan before leading the team to a fourth straight appearance at the finals.

"We learned so many lessons from 2002," he said.

"We have taken the positive things and we are going to be different now in 2006. We have a different atmosphere now and we have to be ready for the next challenge."

Saudi Arabia will be without striker Mohammad Al Anbar, who twisted an ankle in training on Monday.

Striker Francileudo dos Santos is ruled out for Tunisia due to injury but coach Roger Lemerre believes the nation should be progressing to the knockout phase of the competition in what is their third straight appearance in the finals.

"In Tunisia everybody expects that the team will go through to the second round because it is the third time in a row that the country has qualified for the World Cup and it is time to go on and get some good results," he said.

"We are here three times in a row so this is the right time go through to the next round. This is the best time for this."