..::Football III::..

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Genoa 1-0 AC Milan: Antonelli heads hosts into third place

Luca Antonelli scored the only goal of the game as Genoa defeated AC Milan 1-0 to move into third place in Serie A.

Gian Piero Gasperini's side have not lost in the league since September as they bounced back from their surprise Coppa Italia exit at the hands of Empoli in midweek.

The win over a lacklustre Milan side - without suspended midfielder Michael Essien - takes Genoa above Napoli into third after Rafael Benitez's side could only draw 2-2 at home to Empoli earlier on Sunday.

After a first half in which his side struggled to fashion clear-cut opportunities at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris, captain and former Milan defender Luca Antonelli gave Genoa the lead from a corner 13 minutes before the break.

Milan huffed and puffed after the interval, but were unable to break down a disciplined Genoa defence, with the hosts looking more than capable on the break.
Ultimately Milan befell the same fate as champions Juventus in losing at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris, as Filippo Inzaghi's men were beaten on the road in Serie A for the first time this season.

Jeremy Menez had Milan's first effort on goal as he cut in from the left and tested Mattia Perin after 11 minutes as the game started in a fairly tentative manner.
Stephan El Shaarawy - featuring against his former club - saw a header on goal easily gathered by Perin midway through the half, before Genoa started to dominate possession.

Gasperini's men kept the ball well and moved Milan around without getting behind them, but it was the visitors who continued to have the better of the chances. Menez fired a one-on-one straight at Perin before the half-hour mark after robbing Juraj Kucka of the ball in midfield before Genoa took the lead.

Having failed to make the most of their many corners, Genoa eventually made Milan pay at the ninth attempt as Antonelli's glanced header beat Diego Lopez to the goalkeeper's left. Diego Perotti almost made it two before the interval but his strike was blocked on the goal-line by Daniele Bonera.Milan continued to struggle to create opportunities after the interval and Keisuke Honda fired a disappointing free-kick into the wall.

Giampaolo Pazzini was introduced late on for Honda to try and inject some impetus but to no avail, with Inzaghi perhaps wishing he could call on in-form striker Alessandro Matri - the Milan forward who was lining up against his parent club.Giacomo Bonaventura could have salvaged a point late on when the ball fell kindly for him inside the penalty area, but the midfielder could only scoop the ball over the crossbar.

Inzaghi will now need to focus Milan's attention on tricky upcoming encounters with Napoli and Roma before the year's end, while Genoa look almost certain to end 2014 in a European place after another impressive win.

 

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West Ham 3-1 Swansea City: Carroll & Sakho send Hammers into top four

Inspired by two-goal Andy Carroll, West Ham came from behind to beat 10-man Swansea City 3-1 and move up to third in the Premier League.

Though the Hammers enjoyed the majority of possession throughout, Wilfried Bony punished them on the visitors' first attack of the game nearly 20 minutes in when he coolly finished a fine break, Jefferson Montero pulling back for the assist.

But Carroll got one back not long before the break when his fantastic looping header gave Lukasz Fabianski no chance.

The Swans were then undone in a flurry of action in the second half. First Carroll imperiously headed in a second when allowed space to attack a corner before Fabianski was sent off for rushing out to deny Diafra Sakho a goalscoring opportunity, despite the striker emerging from the challenge to hit the post.

Sakho later hit the post once again before finally getting on the scoresheet by driving through three defenders in the 87th minute and firing past a helpless Tremmel.

West Ham, with Alex Song and Enner Valencia back in for Morgan Amalfitano and Mauro Zarate, looked to push forward in the early stages and had a penalty appeal turned down when Carl Jenkinson's cross struck Jazz Richards on the elbow.

Fabianski saved well with his legs from Kevin Nolan, who failed to connect properly with an earlier chance, and the visitors made the most of those let-offs when scoring with their first real attack.

Montero played a neat one-two with Gylfi Sigurdsson before pulling back for Bony to produce a clinical side-footed finish after 19 minutes.

Ashley Williams bravely blocked a Valencia effort following a nod down from Carroll, while Sigurdsson tested Adrian with a stinging drive at the other end.

Bony was inches wide with a rasping strike from 20 yards out before West Ham enjoyed a period of sustained pressure which ended with Carroll spectacularly heading in a Jenkinson cross with four minutes of the half remaining.

The hosts began the second period by bringing on Sakho to replace Valencia, with the Senegalese striker returning from a month out with a back injury.

However, it was the Welsh side who had the first big chance after the break when Bony struck the bar from long range on the counterattack with an hour gone.

Angel Rangel had to be alert to clear a Sakho cross away from goal but it proved only a brief respite as Carroll rose highest to head in a Stewart Downing corner after 66 minutes.

Sakho then hit the post after latching onto a through-ball and rounding Fabianski, who was then sent off by Chris Foy for impeding the striker after the referee had initially played the advantage.

West Ham should have increased their lead when Sakho was left one-on-one with substitute keeper Gerhard Tremmel but he shot against the base of the post.

Sakho made amends for that miss, though, when Carroll headed on a long ball and he powered through to fire over Tremmel with three minutes remaining.

Carroll's hat-trick attempt was cleared off the line and Tremmel saved well from Sakho as West Ham finished with a flourish.

 

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Meh sare West Ham performance hodai neh​

 

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Napoli 2-2 Empoli: Fourth successive draw for Partenopei

Napoli came from two goals down to snatch a 2-2 draw at home to Empoli on Sunday afternoon.

The Partenopei produced a dire first-half performance and were fortunate that they were only trailing to a solitary strike from Simone Verdi at the break.

Empoli deservedly doubled their advantage through Daniele Rugani early shortly after the restart but that goal belatedly sparked Napoli into life, with Duvan Zapata halving the home side's deficit before Jonathan de Guzman restored parity with 18 minutes to go.

Napoli poured forward during a frantic finale but were unable to find what, in truth, would have been an undeserved winner.

Indeed, Rafael Benitez's men had been atrocious for an hour and were particularly poor during the first half, getting caught cold on the break just 19 minutes in, when Verdi coolly slid the ball past Rafael after being put in on goal by Massimo Maccarone.

The latter should have made it 2-0 when the visitors pounced on a misplaced pass from Jorginho but the former Middlesbrough forward fired wide.

Francesco Tavano was then presented with an excellent opportunity to extend the visitors' advantage but the 35-year-old striker did not even force Rafael into a save after being put clean through on goal.

However, Rugani finished emphatically when a corner dropped for him eight minutes into the second half, the defender controlling the ball with the outside of his right foot before slamming it home from six yards out.

Napoli appeared dead and buried but Zapata, who netted an injury-time equaliser at Sampdoria on Monday, handed them a lifeline in the 67th minute when he headed home from a corner.

The Partenopei were level just five minutes later when a a Jose Callejon cut-back was deflected into the path of De Guzman, who made no mistake from 10 yards out.

The Dutchman very nearly nicked a winner in the dying seconds but his volley was well saved by Luigi Sepe, who is on loan to Empoli from Napoli.

As it was, though, Napoli were forced to settle for a third successive draw in Serie A and their fourth in all competitions.

 

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Van Gaal: Pelle plays like Van Persie

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal insists he is not surprised to see Southampton striker Graziano Pelle taking the Premier League by storm and has compared him to Robin van Persie.

Pelle has been a big success for Southampton, scoring nine goals in all competitions - six of those in the Premier League - since reuniting with former Feyenoord boss Ronald Koeman in a deal reportedly worth €10 million in July.
The 29-year-old striker was also capped by Italy in October as a result of his stellar start to life in England.

But Pelle's exploits come as no surprise to Van Gaal, who signed the Italian during his time in charge of Eredivisie outfit AZ Alkmaar in 2007.

"I am not surprised [at his success] because I bought him at AZ as he was an attacking point," said Van Gaal ahead of Monday's trip to St Mary's."I've said about [Robin] van Persie that I like strikers who are an attacking point, not only a striker who scores goals.

"He is also very creative. He is always seeing the third man. Van Persie is also always seeing the third man."Those kind of strikers are the ones I like. So it is not surprising. It may be surprising that he scores nine goals - that is a lot - but he can do it. I knew that.

"I had Shota Arveladze, one of the best strikers I have trained in my career. I have trained a lot of strikers but he was one of the best and he had to compete with him.
"So that was not so easy for him but later on he came in the squad and showed his capacity but later on he showed that much more and when Koeman bought him - because he was also manager of AZ - he took him with him to Feyenoord and he explodes. It is fantastic for him."

 

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Gotze's World Cup-winning boot raises €2 million for charity

The left boot of Mario Gotze, which won Germany their first World Cup in 24 years, has sold for a staggering €2 million at a charity auction.

Gotze's left-footed volley flew past Sergio Romero in extra-time in Rio de Janiero in July as Joachim Low's men claimed football's greatest prize for the fourth time.

The boot, which has gone unwashed and unworn since that iconic moment in Brazil, raised the incredible €2m for German charity 'A Heart for Children' as bidders scrambled to own a true piece of footballing history.

"I have never washed the boot. It is still in the same condition as it was in Rio, when I left the stadium with it," the Bayern Munich man told Bild.

"There is still grass on it. I have never put the boot on after the final. I kept it safe at my house."

Treasurer of the charity Niko Knochenhauer added: "I would not have dreamed [this]. Two million Euros - that's a huge amount. The good thing is that it is for a good cause... and not just for the shoe."

 

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When Ibrahimovic is fit, PSG win - Matuidi

Blaise Matuidi underlined the importance of Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Paris Saint-Germain following Saturday's 2-1 win over Nantes.

The Sweden striker scored twice to eclipse Alejandro Bedoya's early opener and send PSG top of Ligue 1, the second goal a stunning free kick shortly after half-time.

Ibrahimovic revealed after the game that he is still working his way back to full fitness amid an ongoing struggle with a heel injury, and midfielder Matuidi feels Ibrahimovic being in good condition is key to PSG's ambitions this term.

"For sure, he had a complicated start of the season because of his long injury," the Frenchman said. "He is back at the right time with us, doing what he does best - scoring goals.

"We are happy to see him scoring two goals. We know when Ibra is in good shape, in most cases, Paris win.

"It is good to have him back and I hope he will carry on like that."

Ibrahimovic now has eight goals in nine league appearances this season.

The 33-year-old's next assignment will be to help his current club overcome his former employers when PSG head to Barcelona in the Champions League on Wednesday.

PSG simply need to avoid defeat in order to secure top spot in Group F.

 

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Liverpool had no choice but to sign Balotelli, insists Rodgers

Brendan Rodgers insists Liverpool had no choice but to sign Mario Balotelli as the controversial Italian's struggles on Merseyside continue.

Liverpool splashed out €20 million to bring Balotelli from AC Milan in the summer as Rodgers re-modelled his attack in the wake of Luis Suarez's departure to Barcelona, but the 24-year-old's return to England has been frought with problems.

Just two goals in 14 matches in all competitions have been compounded with a groin injury and a Football Association charge for an Instagram post that allegedly contained anti-Semitic and racist references.

But Rodgers is adamant that the signing of Balotelli made sense at the time, given his undoubted ability and Liverpool's need for another frontman to provide an alternative to Daniel Sturridge and Rickie Lambert.

"As as a club we felt that buying Mario was the solution at the time," the Liverpool boss told reporters.

"In the summer, we had Rickie Lambert. Fabio Borini looked 100 per cent that he was leaving, and obviously Daniel Sturridge has shown in his career so far that he gets injuries.

"To go into the season with no-one else would have been very difficult for us. It would have been unfair to leave Rickie Lambert, as a 32-year-old, as the only other striker that we had.

"I felt it was a risk we needed to take with Mario because, as a group, we couldn't afford not to at that time. It was obviously late on and we needed to have someone in.

"It's something that we can't regret now. I made it clear at the beginning it was a calculated risk - and that is why he probably cost the money he did."

 

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Kroos: I hope Ronaldo can keep this up

Toni Kroos hopes to see team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo keep up his stunning goalscoring record for Real Madrid for as long as possible.

Ronaldo hit a record-breaking 23rd hat-trick in La Liga in the 3-0 win over Celta Vigo on Saturday, taking his tally to 23 goals in just 13 matches in Spain's top flight so far this season.

The 29-year-old - who has now reached 200 goals in La Liga - led his side to a record-equalling 18th consecutive victory in all competitions, and Kroos is eager that they do not allow their efforts to drop as they continue to fight for trophies on all fronts.

"The key is to keep up this consistency. We have to keep working like this and winning games. What's most important isn't the record for wins, but keeping on winning every game and staying in top spot," he told Madrid's official website.

"Cristiano Ronaldo is a really important player. He put in a very good match and was decisive once again. He's always a key player and I hope he keeps it up."

Marcelo also warned his team-mates that they cannot afford to relax heading into the winter break and is optimistic that James Rodriguez will not be out for long after he picked up an injury against Celta.

"The record is very important but we want to carry on working, fighting hard and winning, and to do that we have to be focused and we can't afford to relax," said the Brazilian. "We can't take anything for granted. The secret is hard work, fighting spirit, togetherness and everyone showing desire.

"Cristiano is in really good shape, as you're all aware. The team helps him a lot and he helps the team. We're delighted to have him. Let's hope that what James picked up is nothing."

With a Champions League clash with Ludogorets to come and the Club World Cup around the corner, Dani Carvajal is keen to maintain their winning run.

"Celta made it difficult for us. The coach had already warned us that it was going to be tough, because they're good with the ball. We had chances and deserved the win," he said.

"We're not thinking about the record, we're just thinking about keeping on winning, and now we have to think about Ludogorets. All the players have to be prepared because then we have the Club World Cup coming up."

 

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Two-goal hero Ibrahimovic: I'm feeling good

Zlatan Ibrahimovic said he is "feeling good" after inspiring Paris Saint-Germain to a 2-1 win over Nantes on Saturday.

Ibrahimovic has struggled with a heel injury for the majority of the 2014-15 Ligue 1 campaign, a problem that is expected to hamper the Swede for the rest of the season according to PSG doctor Eric Rolland.

But the Sweden international came to PSG's rescue at the Parc de Princes, scoring twice in the space of 14 minutes as the French champions overcame Nantes to leapfrog leaders Olympique de Marseille, who are in action on Sunday.

Ibrahimovic put PSG on level terms in the 34th minute, tapping home Lucas Moura's cross, and he doubled his tally three minutes into the second half with a stunning free kick.

After scoring his third goal in two games, having missed the midweek draw at Lille, Ibrahimovic said he will be back to his best soon.

"I felt good out there tonight. Match after match, I'm getting better," Ibrahimovic is quoted as telling PSG's official website.

"I'm not yet 100 per cent but if I continue like this I'll get back to my best.

"I always try to help my team as much as possible and this evening I did that with my two goals."

 

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Schweinsteiger: I’m still greedy for titles

Bayern Munich star Bastian Schweinsteiger says is desperate for even more success, despite winning the World Cup with Germany during the summer.

The midfielder has spent much of this campaign on the sidelines due to injury but boasts a formidable collection of titles, including seven Bundesliga crowns and a Champions League title with the German champions.

And the 30-year-old has said there is still no relent in his hunger for silverware.

“With the world title, I’ve become even greedier,” he admitted to Focus. “I won’t be bored of winning for a long time.

“I now know how to win big titles and what it feels like to lift a trophy in the air. I want to have many more of these moments.

“I would even say that winning titles is addictive.”

Schweinsteiger confessed that previous heartbreak made the 1-0 World Cup final win over Argentina in Rio in July all the sweeter.

“In 2012, we were brutally punished in the Champions League final against Chelsea. I lay on the field with the national coach crying after we beat Argentina because I felt justice. And I want that feeling more. Much more.”

‘Schweini’ also admitted that he has tried to talk club-mate Philipp Lahm out of international retirement, but to no avail.

“Every day I tell him he should play for Germany again, but so far I’ve had no success.”

Now back to full fitness after knee issues, the new national team captain is on line for his eighth Bundesliga title as Bayern currently lead the division by a healthy seven-point margin.

 

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Mancini left fuming by Inter collapse

Roberto Mancini was left furious after watching his Inter team throw away a lead to go down 2-1 at home to Udinese on Sunday.

Mauro Icardi had given Inter the lead before half-time at San Siro, but Bruno Fernandes' second-half volley restored parity.

Inter were ultimately the architects of their own fate as Rodrigo Palacio's poor backpass allowed Cyril Thereau in on goal for Udinese's winner, leaving the hosts awaiting a win domestically since Mancini returned as manager.Mancini was angry at the way his side allowed Udinese back into the match, but remained keen to point out plenty of positives to build on in the coming weeks.

"I am angry at this defeat," he told Sky Sport Italia. "We cannot do anything now, the guys are working well, we just have to roll our sleeves up and continue."In the first half we played well, we had so many chances and could have scored more.

"In the second half we started well, but then there was 15 minutes when Udinese took advantage."For Udinese boss Andrea Stramaccioni, it was a big victory on his first return to Inter since being sacked in 2013, and he hailed a deserved three points.

"It was important for us to win," he said. "I think overall we deserved it, especially for the second half."We wanted to press high and we did not succeed [in the first half], but we reorganised and went more aggressive, these are three valuable points from which to build."

Inter have now collected just 17 points in the first 14 games of the season – their lowest total at this stage of the season since the 1946-47 season, when they earned just 12.

 

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Bale: Ronaldo deserves the Ballon d'Or

Gareth Bale says Real Madrid team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo deserves to win the 2014 Fifa Ballon d'Or after having a "fantastic" year.

The Portuguese star inspired his side to the the Champions League, Uefa Super Cup and Copa del Rey last season, and has carried his incredible form into the current campaign, hitting 29 goals in 21 games in all competitions.

Ronaldo has been nominated for the Ballon d'Or alongside Barcelona's Lionel Messi and Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who won the World Cup with Germany this year, but Bale believes his team-mate who should take the prize for a second consecutive year.

"Ronaldo was fantastic this year," the Welshman told TeleFoot. "He deserves to win the Ballon d'Or."

Former France international Bixente Lizarazu also weighed in on the debate, backing Bale's claims by saying, "Ronaldo was better than Lionel Messi this year."

Former Barcelona defender Maxwell, meanwhile, believes the Argentine forward is the game's undisputed No.1.

"For me there is no discussion," he said. "Messi is the best player in the world."

 

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Messi changed the game - Luis Enrique

Barcelona coach Luis Enrique claimed Lionel Messi changed the course of the Sunday's Catalan derby, adding the Argentine was decisive "all over the pitch" as they beat Espanyol 5-1.

Despite winning by such a large margin, the Blaugrana were made to work for it in the beginning as they fell behind to Sergio Garcia's goal 13 minutes in and they looked lost in attack until Messi's magnificent equaliser on the stroke of half-time.

The Argentine added a second with another superb strike five minutes into the second period and it was plain sailing for Luis Enrique's side after that, with Messi completing his hat-trick after goals from Gerard Pique and Pedro had made light of what had been a difficult clash against their city rivals.

"Until their goal it was a relatively placid game for us," Luis Enrique said after the match. "Espanyol closed up at the back and it was difficult to get through, but we are used to that.

"We missed a couple of chances and they had some opportunities too. Messi's equaliser was key because in the second half we were better, we were much more effective and with the players we have, it is difficult for other teams to stop us when we are effective like that."

Messi's treble is his third hat-trick in four games for the Catalan club after his trebles against Sevilla and APOEL recently, but Luis Enrique was keen to highlight the Argentine's overall contribution.

"Today, Leo wasn't only decisive with his goals, but also with the way he set up chances and in his defensive play," the Asturian said. "He was extremely involved all over the pitch and we have seen that since the beginning of the season."

The 27-year-old forward surpassed 400 goals for Barca in total - including friendlies - and also became the all-time top scorer in the Catalan derby with 12 strikes in the fixture, overtaking 1940s and '50s legend Cesar Rodriguez.

"You quickly get used to having decisive players like Messi," Luis Enrique added.

 

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Smalling vows to return Manchester United to Champions League

Manchester United defender Chris Smalling has vowed to help his side to return to the Champions League.

The Red Devils have been mainstays in Europe's premier club competition since its rebranding but a disappointing 2013-14 campaign - in which they finished seventh - meant that they failed to qualify for European football this season.

The Red Devils appear to have turned a corner under the stewardship of Louis van Gaal this term, though, and a victory at Southampton on Monday would leave them third in the Premier League table.

Centre-back Smalling is driven by their absence from the Champions League and has no intention of missing out on it for any longer.

"I was watching it the other week," he told the club's official website. "Even when we were in it, I would watch it on the other night anyway - even more so this year.

"It's a bit gutting that we're not involved but you can see the standard of football we need to make sure we rise to.

"You hear the Champions League music when they all line up and it's just a case where we've been in it year after year, so it's a sad time.

"We'll be making sure we don't miss out again next year."

 

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Pique: No words to describe Messi

Gerard Pique was lost for words after Lionel Messi broke through the 400-goal barrier for Barcelona with a hat-trick in Sunday's 5-1 win over Espanyol.

The Blaugrana fell behind to a goal from former academy product Sergio Garcia just 13 minutes in but Messi levelled matters just before the break with a low strike from outside the area.

It was the Argentine's 400th goal for Barca and he wasted little time adding to his tally, putting Barca ahead with a solo strike early in the second half before completing his hat-trick with a neat finish in the closing stages.

Pique netted Barca's third goal, which he dedicated to his partner, pop star Shakira, but the defender was more taken with Messi's latest milestone.

"There are no words to describe Messi," the centre-half told reporters. "He's given us so much that, I repeat, there are no words to describe everything he's done for us."

Barca had looked vulnerable on the counterattack during the first half at Camp Nou but Pique felt that they improved from a defensive perspective the longer the game went on.

"It was a tough game," the former Manchester United ace added.

"We were better in the second half and corrected the errors we made. Now we must stay on this path."

Barca boss Luis Enrique was also pleased by the way in which the hosts upped their game after the interval to move back to within two points of Liga leaders Real Madrid.

"It got complicated after their opener," he stated. "The equaliser just before half-time was important. In the second half, we were better."

Barca and Messi will be hoping to take their fine form into Wednesday's Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain, which the Catalans need to win in order to beat the French side to top spot in Group F.

 

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Barclays Premier League 2014.12.08 Fixture

Barclays Premier League 2014.12.08 Fixture​

Southampton Vs Manchester United

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Ada Southampton match 1ka lesi wena 1kak naha but kohomahari win karaganna one

Good Luck Manchester United
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La Liga 2014.12.08 Fixtures

La Liga 2014.12.08 Fixtures

Eibar Vs Almeria

Levante Vs Getafe
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Serie A 2014.12.08 Fixtures

Serie A 2014.12.08 Fixtures

Cagliari Vs Chievo Verona

Hellas Verona Vs Sampdoria
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