KEY PLAYERS in al hilal club

NAWAF AL-TEMYAT

Age: 25
Position: Midfield
Club: Al-Hilal (Ksa)

Saudi needs the 2000 Asian Player of the Year to be at his best if it is to cause a surprise at the finals.

It did well enough without him during the qualifiers to edge out Iran but at the rarefied atmosphere of a World Cup finals it is in dire need of one of its few players thought capable of playing at the highest level in Europe.

Has seemingly recovered well from the ruptured knee ligaments that caused him to miss the qualifiers and will be the creative heartbeat of the team while also being looked to to score goals as well.

Illustrated his ability to revive the team with some spectacular long range efforts during the 2000 Asian Cup after they made a disastrous start with a 4-1 thrashing by Japan.

His ability has not gone unnoticed by several European clubs with the favourites to sign him being Dutch outfit Roda JC Kerkrade, though French title runners-up Lens and Italian team Perugia are also in the frame.

MOHAMMED AL-DEAYEA

Age: 30
Position: Goalkeeper
Club: Al Hilal (Ksa)

The Saudis' immoveable rock in goal for a virtually uninterrupted 12 year period looks set to create a new world record of caps as he moves in on the 170 set by Mexico's Claudio Suarez, who is struggling to be fit for the finals.

Al-Deayea has served his country magnificently down the years, though he is still remembered for the moment of nerves that cost the Saudis a victory over the mighty Dutch in the first round of the 1994 World Cup finals.

Played the majority of his club football for Al-Taei, whom he signed on for at the age of 15, before decamping to Al-Hilal and was a member of the side that won the Asian Cup Winners Cup.