Saudi Arabia striker Sami Al-Jaber hopes to dedicate a victory over Ukraine to bereaved team-mate Mohammed Al Shlhoub.

Al-Jaber, who had a brief spell on loan at Wolves in 2000, spent yesterday morning helping comfort his Al Hilal club-mate, who had just learned his mother had died back in Saudi Arabia.

Now the 33-year-old, set to win his 162nd cap against Oleg Blokhin's Ukraine side in Hamburg later today, wants to give his absent friend, who is now back in his homeland, some joy amid his grief.

Al-Jaber said: "It was a complete shock to learn she had died and everyone is very sad for him. Now we have heard about his mother we must do even better against Ukraine.

"We have promised him we will do something extra."

Al-Jaber was on the scoresheet in the Saudis' first Group H game, a 2-2 draw with Tunisia in Munich.

And that has given them one point more than the Ukrainians, who were hammered 4-0 by Spain in Leipzig in their first fixture in the World Cup finals.

Of course, the Saudis know all too well how a campaign can come off the rails within minutes as they were thrashed 8-0 by Germany in 2002.

But Al-Jaber was adamant those days were behind the Saudis - and warned that Ukraine would be intent on revenge.

He said: "We have to stop talking about 2002. This is 2006. We lost a lot of confidence after that World Cup but after an excellent 45 minutes against Tunisia it is back now.

"But we also know that Ukraine's game with Spain was a one-off. They are a good team and cannot do as badly again as they did against Spain.

"They still have a chance to qualify from this group with Spain and we are a little bit worried about a backlash."

Chelsea striker Andriy Shevchenko, who had played just a few minutes following a month out with a knee injury, struggled against Spain but Al-Jaber was not about to write him off.

Al-Jaber said: "He is one of the greatest players in the world and we respect him. The team is very happy to be playing against such a player."

Coach Marcos Paqueta added: "It is best for us is that the ball doesn't reach Shevchenko. It is important to mark and close down all their dangerous players - and one is certainly Shevchenko."