"The crushing defeat that Ukraine suffered against Spain caused us a problem, we can’t accept to loose against them," Nour was quoted as saying by Saudi paper Al-Watan on Sunday.

"We can not expect the outcome of the clash, it is open for all possibilities," he added.

Nour said his below-par performance in Saudi Arabia's 2-2 draw with Tunisia was mainly down to the intense pressure mounted on him and his teammates.

"I didn't play well in the first half because I was affected by our 8-0 defeat to Germany in the 2002 World Cup," he said.

"But in the second half, we got rid of the pressure and produced good form, every player fulfilled his duties and followed the coach's instructions," he added.