DAMMAM, 12 December — Saudi Arabia have a good chance of qualifying for the second round of the 2002 World Cup soccer finals in Japan and South Korea, according to the team’s head coach Nasser Al-Johar.

“We have very good chances of qualifying for the second round at the 2002 World Cup, repeating our performance in the 1994 World Cup,” Johar said.

Saudi Arabia have been placed in Group E of the preliminary round along with Germany, Ireland and Cameroon.

Johar’s confidence was based on the fact that this was the third time in a row that the Kingdom had made it to the World Cup finals.

“God willing we will secure a high position among the world teams during the 2002 campaign. And the fact that it is our third successive appearance in the World Cup finals, will boost our morale and will help us give a good performance,” he added.

Asked for his views on Saudi Arabia’s rival teams in the group, Johar said, “I was expecting that we would be placed along with Italy or France but not with Germany. Anyway, Germany is also a strong team but we will try to put up a good show against them, and also against Ireland and Cameroon.

Johar said the team’s plans for preparation have already been drwan up by the Saudi Football Federation. “The Saudi Football Federation have made elaborate plans to prepare the team for the finals. Friendly matches will be arranged against any of the remaining 31 teams which have made it to the finals,” he added.

Johar said he was happy that Saudi Arabia had entered the 2002 finals. “We are very happy that our flag will be there at the 2002 World Cup,” Johar said.

Lippi wants foreign challenge after Juventus

In Milan, Juventus coach Marcello Lippi wants to move to a foreign club once his spell in charge of the Turin side is over. The 53-year-old said he has no desire to work at another Italian team after his brief and unhappy spell with Inter Milan.

“I want to win something again with Juventus and then I will go and coach abroad because I don’t want to sit on another team’s bench in Italy,” Lippi told a news conference yesterday.

Lippi returned to Juventus in June for his second spell in charge at the Delle Alpi stadium.

During his first reign as coach, Juventus won three Italian championships and the 1996 European Cup, as well as the Italian Cup, European Supercup and Intercontinental Cup.

“I came back to Turin because Juventus has always stayed in my heart,” Lippi told the Italian media.

“Those past years are an irremovable part of my memory and my professional career.”

McLeish set to take

over at Rangers

In Glasgow, Alex McLeish looks certain to become the new manager of Rangers after his current club Hibernian gave permission for him to speak to their Scottish premier league rivals yesterday.

Rangers have targeted the former Aberdeen and Scotland defender to succeed Dick Advocaat, who will become director of football after three-and-a-half years as manager of the Glasgow club.

Hibernian, who visit Rangers in a league match today night, initially refused their rivals permission to speak to McLeish but issued a statement yesterday saying they had “reluctantly” done so after McLeish made it clear he wanted to go.

“This follows an initial approach made by Rangers yesterday afternoon,” the statement said.