DAMASCUS The dream of national soccer team about cruising into the 2002 World Cup finals is real but the green-clad Saudis are a major obstacle in its way, said the Arab-language daily **** Al-Hayat****.

The Sunday edition of the London-based paper further said: "The national Iranian soccer team with professional footballers playing in European teams is playing friendlies to get ready to capture a World Cup berth for the third time."

Grouped as it is with the Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Thailand, and Bahrain teams, will the Iranian dream come true? asked the daily.

Iran was the first West Asian country to find its way into the 1978 World Cup in Argentina and proved to be one of the best Asian squads in the 1998 World Cup finals held in France, IRNA reported.

Iran beat the U.S. in France and resisted powerful Yugoslavia's attacks for 73 minutes.

At the moment nothing can prevent Iran from storming into the World Cup finals, added **** Al-Hayat****.

"Desirous of bringing joy to over 60 million people, Iran should remove obstacles in its way, Saudi Arabia and Iraq, to help history repeat itself and this is not impossible," concluded the daily.