* r e c. Sport. Soccer ' s

Players Likely to Feature in WC '94

-----------------------------------
Coach:

ABDELLAH AJRI BLINDA, Age: 43. Appointed a month before the final qualifier

against Zambia and only had one warm-up match to prepare. Has little faith in

domestic league and is pinning his hopes on the European-based contingent.

KHALI AZMI (Goalkeeper, Raja Casablanca) 29 years old, 40 caps:

Ezaki Badou's successor. Good positioning and calm under pressure. Good in the

air.
NOURREDINE NAYBET (Defender, Nantes(FR)) 24 years old, 20 caps:

Good stopper and consistent. May move to a bigger European club with a good

showing in America.
AHMED MASBAHI (Defender, KAC Marrakech) 28 years old, 26 caps:

Strong central defender and a certain starter.

TAHAR EL KHALEJ (Defender, KAC Marrakech) 25 years old, 45 caps:

Strong defender who can play in midfield aswell. Tall and good in the air.

RACHID DAOUDI (Midfield, WAC Casablanca) 28 years old, 35 caps:

The most popular footballer in Morocco. Skilful and flambuoyant. Likes to get

wide but also has an eye for goal. A key player in the lineup.
MUSTAPHA HADJI (Midfield, Nancy(FR)) 22 years old, 4 caps:

Stunning debut against Zambia in vital qualifier. Preferred to play for

Morocco than France. Full of potential, he has two good feet and loves to get

forward.
MUSTAPHA EL HADDAOUI (Midfield, Angers(FR)) 32 years old, 74 caps:

King Hassan II requested that he be restored to the team. Good vision and a

veteran of the team that did so well in the 1986 Mexico World Cup.

MOHAMED CHAOUCH (Forward, Nice(FR)) 27 years old, 52 caps:

A classic centre forward and the best hope of the Moroccan front line. Been

around the clubs in France and now recovered from a long injury lay-off.
HASSAN NADDER (Forward, Farense(PORT)): 28 years old, 32 caps:

Despite scoring non-stop for his club, he has a poor international return with

just six goals from 32 games.

===============================================================================

T H E N E T H E R L A N D S

Karel Stokkermans

===============================================================================
COACH: Dick Advocaat
GOALKEEPERS: Age Caps Goals

1. Ed de Goey Feyenoord 28 12 0

13. Edwin van der Sar Ajax 24 0 0

22. Theo Snelders Aberdeen (Sco) 31 1 0

DEFENDERS:

2. Frank de Boer Ajax 24 23 1

4. Ronald Koeman [C] Barcelona (Spa) 31 70 13

14. Ulrich van Gobbel Feyenoord 23 4 0

18. Stan Valckx Sporting Lisbon (Por) 31 5 0

21. John de Wolf Feyenoord 32 5 2

MIDFIELD:

3. Frank Rijkaard Ajax 32 67 7

5. Rob Witschge Feyenoord 28 19 3

6. Jan Wouters PSV Eindhoven 34 65 4

8. Wim Jonk Inter Milan (Ita) 28 13 3

12. John Bosman Anderlecht (Bel) 29 25 11

15. Danny Blind Ajax 32 24 1

16. Arthur Numan PSV Eindhoven 25 4 0

20. Aron Winter Lazio (Ita) 27 37 2
FORWARDS:

7. Marc Overmars Ajax 21 11 1

9. Ronald de Boer Ajax 24 7 3

10. Dennis Bergkamp Inter Milan (Ita) 25 29 16

11. Brian Roy Nottingham Forest (Eng) 24 19 4

17. Gaston Taument Feyenoord 24 5 0

19. Peter van Vossen Ajax 26 8 7

Thanks to the proximity to the British Isles, the Netherlands were one of the

first nations on the continent to start playing football. The pioneer was Pim

Mulier, who founded the first football club, H.F.C. from Haarlem, now called

K.H.F.C. (Royal H.F.C.). In the years of innocence, just after the turn of the

century, the Dutch side was one of the best on the continent, as three Olympic

bronze medals prove. After the mid-twenties however, the football centre of

Europe shifted to the South and East, and Dutch football sunk into

insignificance, despite the occasional drubbing of arch rivals Belgium in the

annual meetings and the appearance of the odd gifted player. Participation in

two early World Cups (1934 and 1938) was restricted to one appearance, the

defeat against Czechoslovakia after extra time in 1938 (0-3) a creditable

performance.
Things started changing in the fifties. Up until then, amateurism was staunchly

adhered to in the Netherlands and the Dutch professionals playing abroad,like

Wilkes, De Munck, and Rijvers, were not allowed to play for the Dutch national

side. A charity match for the victims of the 1953 flood between a chance team

of Dutch professionals abroad and France (where most Dutch pros were playing)

changed all that. The Dutch XI won 2-1 and the public saw how much better these

professionals had become by playing abroad. Pressure became too much for the

Dutch FA, the KNVB. A rival professional organisation was set up in the summer

of 1954, and soon the two merged. A nationwide first division, the "eredivisie",

was formed in 1956 and slowly things took a turn for the better.

The sixties still saw an embarrassing exit at the hands of Luxembourg in the

European Nations Cup, but the club sides started improving rapidly. Feyenoord

was the first to win the European Cup, but it was Ajax who were to stamp their

mark on the international football scene with their 'totaalvoetbal'. The story

of the Dutch failure to win a World Cup in the seventies, twice losing to the

home country in the final, needs no retelling. Personally, I found the failure

to win the European Championship in 1976 even more galling. After convincingly

winning a qualification group including Poland and Italy (a group of death if

ever there was one) and destroying Belgium 5-0 and 2-1 in the quarterfinal, an

ill-tempered semifinal was lost to Czechoslovakia after extra time. It's one

of the (many) mysteries of the game that the side built around Cruyff, Van

Hanegem, Neeskens, and Krol have no Cup to show for their efforts.

The successors of that golden generation faced an impossible task. After an

indifferent performance at the EC 1980, the Dutch team narrowly missed

qualification for a major tournament three times in succession, Spain's 12-1

victory over Malta in 1983 and Gruen's late away goal in 1985 particularly

traumatic, but to be honest, the quality just wasn't there. Slowly however, a

new, extraordinary generation had ripened under the guidance of Kees Rijvers,

and Rinus Michels, the "generaal", picked the spoils in 1988. Van Basten's

winner in the Hamburg semifinal sent a whole nation into orgasm and sealed an

uncanny revenge for the final defeat in 1974. Uncanny in that the second half

of that semi closely mirrored the first half of that indigestible loss in

Munich. Victory in the final over the USSR was a mere extra, embellished by Van

Basten's beautiful volley.

Hopes were high for more Cups to come, as the core of the team was still young.

And was "our" fluent, attacking style not the way for football to go? But after

comfortable qualifying campaigns, Oranje failed at the final tournaments. In

Italy, an atrocious group performance meant a second round match against the

Germans. In one of the few decent matches at Italia Novanta, our neighbours

proved to be the clearly better side. Revenge for that defeat was achieved in

Sweden '92, but the Dutch players forgot that a semifinal had to be played

before they were allowed to take on the Germans again. There are but few days

that the Dane in my office fails to remind me.
The qualifying results were:
Oslo 23 Sep 92 Norway 2-1 Netherlands

9.Rekdal (p) 1-0 10.Bergkamp 1-1 78.Soerloth 2-1

Menzo, Blind, R.Koeman, Silooy, F.de Boer, Rob Witschge, Rijkaard,

Wouters (82' Kieft), Van 't Schip (80' Taument), Bergkamp, Van Basten.

[The match that should have been a warning for things to come but was treated

as a fluke due to atrocious conditions.]

Rotterdam 14 Oct 92 Netherlands 2-2 Poland

19.Kozminski 0-1 21.Kowalczyk 0-2 42.Van Vossen 1-2 48.Van Vossen 2-2

Menzo, Van Aerle, R.Koeman, Rijkaard (80' Fraeser), Rob Witschge, Jonk,

Bergkamp, Wouters, Numan (39' Vanenburg), Van Vossen, Van Basten.

[Menzo is responsible for both early goals and is fortunately dropped from the

team. Van Vossen saves the day while Bergkamp and Van Basten fight a close

contest in squandering chances.]
Istanbul 16 Dec 92 Turkey 1-3 Netherlands

57.Van Vossen 0-1 59.Gullit 0-2 60.Feyyaz 1-2 87.Van Vossen 1-3

De Goey, Silooy, R.Koeman, Rijkaard, Wouters, Jonk (66' F.de Boer),

Winter (78' Numan), Rob Witschge, Gullit, Van Vossen, Viscaal.

[In the absence of Van Basten, Van Vossen again strikes twice in a match that

had to be won. Gullit proves his worth after a long free kick from Koeman.]

Utrecht 24 Feb 93 Netherlands 3-1 Turkey

5.Overmars 1-0 37.Feyyaz (p) 1-1 39.Witschge 2-1 52.Witschge 3-1

De Goey, De Kock, R.Koeman, Silooy, Wouters (73' Winter), Jonk,

Rob Witschge, Gullit, Bergkamp, Van Vossen (46' F.de Boer), Overmars.

[A match only memorable for the selection of local crowd favourite De Kock.]

Utrecht 24 Mar 93 Netherlands 6-0 San Marino

3.Van den Brom 1-0 29.Canti (og) 2-0 53.De Wolf 3-0

67.R.de Boer (p) 4-0 78.Van Vossen 5-0 83.De Wolf 6-0

De Goey, De Wolf, F.de Boer, Winter, Wouters, Van den Brom, Rob Witschge,

Overmars, Meijer, Eijkelkamp (46' R.de Boer), Blinker (68' Van Vossen).

[A missed opportunity to improve goal difference against the group's minnows.]
London 28 Apr 93 England 2-2 Netherlands

2.Barnes 1-0 24.Platt 2-0 34.Bergkamp 2-1 85.Van Vossen (p) 2-2

De Goey, Rijkaard, Blind, F.de Boer, Winter, Wouters, Bergkamp,

Rob Witschge, Gullit (71' Van Vossen), Bosman (46' De Wolf), Overmars.

[In retrospect the match that decided second place. Oranje were outplayed

for half an hour, and only after Wouters' elbow had knocked out Gazza, the

tide slowly turned. Gullit was substituted and refused to play any more

under coach Advocaat. Van Vossen once again proved his nerves and converted

a late penalty that Overmars' speed had brought. A lucky point.]
Rotterdam 9 Jun 93 Netherlands 0-0 Norway

De Goey, Van Gobbel (80' Winter), R.Koeman, Rijkaard, F.de Boer, Jonk,

Wouters, Overmars, Bergkamp, Bosman (46' Van Vossen), Blinker.

[The match that more or less sealed the Norway's ticket to the States. They

didn't do it prettily, but the Dutch side lacked the imagination to beat

Drillo's efficient though unappealing tactics.]

Bologna 22 Sep 93 San Marino 0-7 Netherlands

1.Bosman 0-1 22.Jonk 0-2 44.Jonk 0-3 51.R.de Boer 0-4 66.Bosman 0-5

77.Bosman 0-6 80.R.Koeman (p) 0-7

De Goey, R.Koeman, F.de Boer, Rijkaard, Jonk, Wouters, Overmars,

Bergkamp, Bosman, Kieft (46' R.de Boer), Roy.

[A match in which Oranje should have reached double figures for the first time

in its history. Kieft missed several sitters in probably his last match for

the national side. A sad end to the international career of a tremendous

striker always in the shadow of Van Basten.]
Rotterdam 13 Oct 93 Netherlands 2-0 England

61.R.Koeman 1-0 68.Bergkamp 2-0

De Goey, De Wolf, R.Koeman, F.de Boer, Rijkaard, Wouters, Bergkamp,

E.Koeman, Overmars (73' Winter), R.de Boer (88' Van Gobbel), Roy.

[D-Day. A match marred by some controversial refereeing decisions, but in the

end the better side won. A good comeback into the team of Ronald's older

brother Erwin. Apart from that, enough has been written about this match in

r.s.s.]
Poznan 17 Nov 93 Poland 1-3 Netherlands

10.Bergkamp 0-1 14.Lesniak 1-1 56.Bergkamp 1-2 88.R.de Boer 1-3

De Goey, Van Gobbel, R.Koeman, F.de Boer, Winter, Wouters, Bergkamp,

E.Koeman, Overmars, R.de Boer, Roy.

[In front of a 90% Dutch crowd, the required last point is never in danger

against a Polish side disappointing throughout the qualification campaign.]

Preparation programme:

January 19, 1994, Tunis.
Tunis 19 Jan 94 Tunisia 2-2 Netherlands

12' Rouissi 1-0 31' Rijkaard 1-1 51' Hamrouni 2-1 59' R.Koeman 2-2

Line-up: De Goey, Blind (32' Winter), R.Koeman, F.de Boer, Rijkaard,

Wouters (46' Jonk), Bergkamp (82' E.Koeman), Numan,

Overmars (59' Gillhaus), R.de Boer, Blinker.
Glasgow 23 Mar 94 Scotland 0-1 Netherlands

23' Roy 0-1

Line-up: De Goey, Van Gobbel, Blind, F.De Boer, Witschge, Jonk, Rijkaard,

Bosman (45' Winter), Taument (45' Overmars), Bergkamp (45' Gillhaus),

Roy.

Tilburg 20 Apr 94 Netherlands 0-1 Ireland

55' Coyne 0-1
Line-up: De Goey, Valckx, R.Koeman (46' De Wolf), F.de Boer, Rijkaard,

Bergkamp (46' Taument), Jonk (46' Winter), Davids, Overmars,

R.de Boer, Roy.
Utrecht 27 May 94 Netherlands 3-1 Scotland

16' Roy 1-0 60' Van Vossen 2-0 68' Irvine (og) 3-0 81' Shearer 3-1

Line-up: De Goey, Jonk, Valckx, F.de Boer, Wouters, Winter, Witschge,

R.de Boer (Numan), Gullit (Van Vossen), Roy (Taument), Overmars.

Eindhoven 1 Jun 94 Netherlands 7-1 Hungary

9' Illes(p) 0-1 13' Bergkamp 1-1 18' Roy 2-1 23' Koeman(p) 3-1 47' Taument 4-1

59' Rijkaard 5-1 79' Rijkaard 6-1 90' Bergkamp 7-1
Line-up: De Goey, R.Koeman, Rijkaard, F.de Boer (Valckx), Winter (Van Gobbel),

Jonk (De Wolf), Rob Witschge, Overmars (Taument), Bergkamp,

R.de Boer (Van Vossen), Roy.
Toronto 12 Jun 94 Canada 0-3 Netherlands

6' Bergkamp 0-1 13' Overmars 0-2 38' Rijkaard 0-3

Line up: De Goey, R.Koeman, F.de Boer, Rijkaard (Van Gobbel),

Valckx (Witschge), Wouters, Jonk, Bergkamp, Overmars, Roy (Bosman),

R.de Boer (Van Vossen).

This time around, the Dutch qualified the hard way. They made a bad start, and

after two matches their World Cup chances were in serious jeopardy. Only a

true team effort helped them out of the mess, under the undisputed guidance of

Dick Advocaat, the team coach who proved his mettle by taking unpopular but

necessary decisions. Even so, the help of some inexplicable selections by the

England manager and an occasional refereeing decision was more than welcome.

In the end, Oranje deserved its qualification. If the team spirit built

survives the "Cruijff discussion", and the players all accept, as they now seem

to, Advocaat as the coach in the World Cup, Oranje can go all the way. The

talent is there and the only problem will be in defence. If Advocaat can find

two fast defenders able to cover Koeman's lack of pace, this is solvable. He has

already found Van Gobbel - hopefully the other will be found before June.
Failure to qualify for the second round is unthinkable and unacceptable. In

the knock-out stage, anything may happen, but there are but few teams that I

think capable of stopping Oranje on their day. I can only hope they are not

going to be involved in a penalty shoot-out.

Key players include:
ED DE GOEY (Goalkeeper, Feyenoord):

A worthy successor to Van Breukelen with the potential to become one of the

world's best keepers.
RONALD KOEMAN (Defender, Barcelona(SP)):

Best attacking defender in the world, but too slow to be just a good defender.

He can make perfect passes over 70 or 80 yards, and he has a lethal free-kick.
JAN WOUTERS (Defender, PSV Eindhoven):

You rarely spot him on the field, but he`s more important then the other 10

players put together, as he is the binding agent in the team. He never gives up

and has been known to get physical.

FRANK RIJKAARD (Midfield, Ajax):

A man who can make all the difference, as long as he keeps his nerves under

control.
DENNIS BERGKAMP (Forward, Inter Milan(ITA)):

The star of the team, who can score fantastic goals with ease.

MARC OVERMARS (Forward, Ajax):

An extremely fast striker starting to make his mark.

===============================================================================
S A U D I A R A B I A
Reproduced from UPI Reports
===============================================================================
COACH: Jorge Solari
GOALKEEPERS: Age Caps Goals

1. Mohammed al-Deayea Al Tai 22 43 0

21. Hussein al-Sadiq Al Quadesia 20 31 0

22. Ibrahim al-Hilwa Al Riyad 21 5 0

DEFENDERS:

2. Abdullah al-Dosari Al Etefag 25 68 1

3. Mohammed al-Khlawi Al Ittihad 23 4 0

4. Abdullah Zebermawi Al Ahli 20 30 3

13. Mohammed Abdel-Jawad Al Ahli 31 143 20

15. Saleh al-Dawod Al Shabab 25 38 0

17. Yasser al-Taifi Al Riyad 22 0 0
MIDFIELD:

5. Ahmed Madani Al Ittihad 24 93 4

6. Fuad Amin Al Shabab 21 62 15

8. Fahad al-Bishi Al Nasr 28 76 39

14. Khalid al-Muwallid Al Ahli 23 51 10

16. Talal al-Jibreen Al Riyad 20 13 0

18. Awad al-Anazi Al Shabab 25 6 0

19. Hamza Saleh Al Ahli 26 27 0

FORWARDS:

7. Fahd al-Ghashayan Al Helal 21 19 11

9. Majed Mohammed Al Nasr 35 166 118

10. Saeed Owairan Al Shabab 26 37 22

11. Fahad Mehalel Al Shabab 23 39 7

12. Sami al-Jaber Al Helal 21 40 10

20. Hamza Falatah Ohud 21 45 10

RIYADH, May 21 (UPI) -- Results of Saudi Arabia's matches since May 1993.

May 1 Macao (WCQ1) Won 6-0 Kaula Lumpur

May 3 Malaysia (WCQ1) Drew 1-1 Kuala Lumpur

May 5 Kuwait (WCQ1) Drew 0-0 Kuala Lumpur

May 14 Macao (WCQ1) Won 8-0 Riyadh

May 16 Malaysia (WCQ1) Won 3-0 Riyadh

May 18 Kuwait (WCQ1) Won 2-0 Riyadh

Oct 15 Japan (WCQ2) Drew 0-0 Doha

Oct 18 N.Korea (WCQ2) Won 2-1 Doha

Oct 22 S.Korea (WCQ2) Drew 1-1 Doha

Oct 24 Iraq (WCQ2) Drew 1-1 Doha

Oct 28 Iran (WCQ2) Won 4-3 Doha

Since qualifying Saudi Arabia has played the following friendlies for which

accurate dates are not available at time of writing.
China Drew 1-1 Riyadh

China Won 1-0 Riyadh

Colombia Lost 0-2 Jeddah

Colombia Drew 1-1 Jeddah

Chile Lost 0-1 Riyadh

Chile Drew 2-2 Riyadh

Poland Lost 0-1 Paris

Iceland Won 2-0 Toulon

Greece Lost 1-5 Athens

Bolivia Lost 0-1 Cannes

USA Drew 0-0 New Jersey
The Coach and Players of Saudi Arabia:
Coach:

JORGE RAUL SOLARI, Age: 51. Former Argentine international who played in the

1966 World Cup finals. Until recently was assistant coach of Argentine team,

but took over the No. 1 post in Saudi Arabia after abrupt departure of his two

predecessors. Brazilian Jose Candido was accused of "too much meddling", while

Dutchman Leo Beenhakker met with stiff resistance when he tried to change the

team's playing style. Solari's greatest asset may be his ability to form the

team into a solid unit and offer a sense of calm to a young, potentially

nervous team whose every move is being carefully watched, and analyzed by an

excited public.

Key players could include:
MOHAMMED AL-DEAYEA (Goalkeeper, Al Tai):

A spectacular athlete, some of al-Deayea's acrobatic saves have become

legendary among Saudi soccer fans. Odds-on favourite to be first choice keeper,

although he was controversially substituted midway through the crucial

qualifier against Iraq.
MOHAMMED ABDUL JAWAD (Defender, Al Ahli):

Vice-Captain and first choice left back. His penchant for attacking from the

back is distinctively Brazilian, the country where his wife comes from.
KHALED AL-MUWALLID (Midfield, Al Ahli):

A prodigiously gifted left-sided midfielder who is still haunted by a failed

penalty attempt that would have defeated Saudi's political nemesis Iraq in the

qualifying rounds. Could be an eye-catcher in the U.S.

FUAD ANWAR AMIN (MIdfield, Shabab):

One of the players his teamamtes look to for inspiration. Despite his youth,

has a great deal of international experience. Played for the under-16 Saudi

national team that won the World Cup in 1989.

FAHD AL-HARIFY AL-BISHI (Midfield, Nasr):

Saudi soccer fans heaved a collective sigh of relief recently when Al-Bishi was

pardoned from a one-year national team suspension to play in the World Cup. Led

his club team to the King's Cup Trophy in May and has been described as the

best player in the squad.

Simon Gleave, E-Mail [e-mail] Phone [phone] x 4129

Computing Officer, LS Support Group, Social Statistics Research Unit,

The City University, Northampton Square, London EC1V 0HB, UK

===============================================================================

PREVIOUS WORLD CUP FINALS

Matt Huggins
===============================================================================
NOTE: The pool/group games are not necessarily in the order they were played in
Uruguay-1930

(13 teams put into 4 pools. Winners of each pool through to semi-finals)

Pool 1

Argentina (0) 1-0 (0) France

Monti
Argentina (3) 6-3 (0) Mexico

Stabile 3, Varallo 2, Lopez, Rosas (F),

Zumelzu Rosas (M)
Argentina (2) 3-1 (1) Chile

Stabile 2, Evaristo (M) Subiabre

Chile (1) 3-0 (0) Mexico

Vidal, Subiabre 2

Chile (0) 1-0 (0) France

Subiabre
France (3) 4-1 (0) Mexico

Laurent, Langiller,

Maschinot 2

P W D L F A Pts

Argentina 3 3 0 0 10 4 6

Chile 3 2 0 1 5 3 4

France 3 1 0 2 4 3 2

Mexico 3 0 0 3 4 13 0
Pool 2

Yugoslavia (2) 2-1 (0) Brazil

Tirnanic, Beck Neto
Yugoslavia (0) 4-0 (0) Bolivia

Beck 2, Marifanovic,

Vujadinovic
Brazil (1) 4-0 (0) Bolivia

Visintainer 2, Neto 2

P W D L F A Pts

Yugoslavia 2 2 0 0 6 1 4

Brazil 2 1 0 1 5 2 2

Bolivia 2 0 0 2 0 8 0

Pool 3

Uruguay (0) 1-0 (0) Peru

Castro
Uruguay (4) 4-0 (0) Rumania

Dorado, Scarone,

Anselmo, Cea
Rumania (1) 3-1 (0) Peru

Staucin 2, Barbu Souza

P W D L F A Pts

Uruguay 2 2 0 0 5 0 4

Rumania 2 1 0 1 3 5 2

Peru 2 0 0 2 1 4 0

Pool 4

U.S.A. (2) 3-0 (0) Belgium

McGhee 2, Patenaude
U.S.A (2) 3-0 (0) Paraguay

Patenaude 2, Florie

Paraguay (1) 1-0 (0) Belgium

Pena
P W D L F A Pts

U.S.A. 2 2 0 0 6 0 4

Paraguay 2 1 0 1 1 3 2

Belgium 2 0 0 2 0 4 0
Semi-Finals

Uruguay (3) 6-1 (1) Yugoslavia

Cea 3, Anselmo 2, Seculic

Iriarte
Argentina (1) 6-1 (0) U.S.A.

Monti, Scopelli, Brown

Stabile 2, Peucelle 2

Final (No Third Place match)
Uruguay (1) 4-2 (2) Argentina

Dorado, Cea, Iriarte, Peucelle, Stabile

Castro
Teams:

Uruguay Argentina

Ballesteros Botasso

Nasazzi (Capt.) Dela Torre

Mascheroni Paternoster

Andrade Evaristo (J)

Fernandez Monti

Gestido Suarez

Dorado Peucelle

Scarone Varallo

Castro Stabile

Cea Ferreira (Capt.)

Iriarte Evaristo (M)
===============================================================================
Italy, 1934

(16 teams in a straight knock-out competition)

First Round

Italy (3) 7-1 (0) U.S.A