UEFA EURO 2008 GROUP A
Czech Republic 1-3 Portugal Match report
Switzerland 0-0 Turkey (1945 BST)
GOALFLASHES AND MAJOR INCIDENTS (all times BST)
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(Not all contributions can be used) Ferguson issues Ronaldo warning ...
Swiss to return drug lord's money ...
Most Czechs have no access to retraining at work - survey ...
Real play down link with Ronaldo ...
Reform spells change for Portugal ...
U.N. Human rights body criticises Czechs over Romanies, cage beds ... By Jonathan Stevenson
2004: Gokhan Inler fires in a left-footer from 30 yards, he had no choice as no-one went wide for him and in these conditions it's easily worth a pop, but Volkan deals with it comfortably. It's certainly the weather for a keeping howler, remember Scott Carson v Croatia?
2002: Nihat takes the worst free-kick ever. It's 45 yards out, everyone is in the box waiting and he smacks it from wide on the left to out on the right for a Swiss throw in. Meanwhile, the rain continues to wreak havoc.
2002: "After watching all of The Apprentice so far this series I have decided to watch this game tonight instead of the final. Good decision or foolish?"
Terrific_Torres on 606
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Punter decision of the tournament so far. Legend.
2000: It is absolutely hammering it down in Basel now, phenomenal rain, and BBC Sport commentators Steve Wilson and Mark Bright are among those getting wet!
1958: "Stevo, are you ready and waiting to use the words 'Swiss Roll' when one of their players goes down like he's been shot?!"
James, Nottm, via text
Please. As if I'd be so obvious...
1956: Hakan Balta has got an early cut to his ear and has to go off the pitch to change his shirt after a little bit of blood.
1956: "Servet Cetin has got big strapping on one of his legs, he was struggling in the warm-up and he still looks as though he is."
BBC Sport's Mark Bright
1954: I already love Arda Turan. He seems to be one of those players that wants the ball all the time and then when he gets it doesn't want to give it to anyone else.
1950: The atmosphere in all of these grounds has been great so far, but this one sounds right out of the top drawer. Let's hope the Swiss really get something to cheer.
1946: The boy Arda Turan looks lively early doors here. He's been linked with Newcastle.
1945: The anthems have been sung with gusto, the teams have done their warm-ups and we are go in the St Jakob-Park stadium in Basel. Incidentally, Ludovic Magnin has taken over the armband from Alexander Frei.
1941: Imagine all the work that has gone into this tournament for Switzerland - the bid, the building stadiums, all that effort - and then to be eliminated after just four days."
BBC Sport commentator Steve Wilson
1939: "The only brilliance I can see in this Switzerland team will be coming from Hakan Yakin. By the way, Celtic do have an interest in Alexander Frei, but we're interested in many players."
BBC Sport pundit Gordon Strachan
1937: "Ironic that the replacment for Frei is ethnically a Turk. By the way, Derdiyok means person with no purpose. Let's hope so tonight! Come on Turkey!"
Kerim, via text
1934: Lots of pressure on the Swiss tonight. Lose and they join Belgium in 2000 as the only hosts to eve go out in the group stage of the tournament. I'm looking forward to seeing young Eren Derdiyok - at a Euro 2008 launch chat with BBC presenter Jake Humphrey, he told me Derdiyok was his one to watch for the Euros. Jake, I hope you're right.
1931: "The tournament has not been great so far, decent few games and only two games that lit up the competition. France have not got started yet and they do not have alot of time."
Jayamz86 on 606
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I disagree. We've had three top drawer games now out of nine, not a bad start - let's just hope this tournament keeps the quality going right until the end, unlike a lot in recent memory.
1928: So this is the first time these two teams have met since that almight free-for-all carve up at the end of their 2006 World Cup qualifying play-off in Istanbul in November 2005. The violent clashes between the two sides led Turkey to be handed a six-game behind-closed-doors ban by Fifa and six players handed individual punishments. Fifa called it the biggest disciplinary investigation in its history.
Turkey get six-game Fifa sanction
1924: "Lots of Turkish fans loving the inclusion of Arda Turan. I haven't seen him play but apparently he's the next big thing for them. Any thoughts? Where do you reckon the goals will come from tonight?"
4fabregas on 606
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1919: Let's clear something up straight away - if Switzerland lose tonight, they are out of the competition. But if Turkey lose, they can still qualify for the quarter-finals. This is because Switzerland then could only get three points and with the Czechs and Turkey on three and to play each other... you get my point. Also worth mentioning that if teams finish level on points, it's decided on their head-to-head performance.
1915: "Stevo I hope you had a wager on your prediction of 3-1 to Portugal."
Timbo, via text
Mate, if your predos were as consistently pathetic as mine, you wouldn't even go near a bookies. I hope I made someone out there some money though, that's enough for me.
1911: Initial thoughts on the teams, then. With Alex Frei out Switzerland have turned to the only teenager at Euro 2008 to score their goals - Eren Derdiyok. Mind you, he turns 20 tomorrow. Hakan Yakin comes in for Marco Streller too and the co-hosts have an all-singing, all-dancing new front pairing. Arda Turan, Emre Asik, Gokdeniz Karadeniz and Tumer Metin comes in for Turkey, with Kazim Kazim and Emre among the ones to miss out.
1905: TEAM NEWS Switzerland v Turkey
Turkey: Volkan Demirel, Emre Asik, Servet Cetin, Hakan Kadir Balta, Tumer Metin, Gokdeniz Karadeniz, Mehmet Aurelio, Arda, Hamit Altintop, Tuncay Sanli, Nihat.
Switzerland: Benaglio, Senderos, Muller, Magnin, Lichtsteiner, Yakin, Gokhan Inler, Gelson Fernandes, Behrami, Barnetta, Derdiyok.
1901: "Portugal came through despite not playing very well, but they will face much tougher tests at this Euros and it'll be interesting to see how they fare then."
BBC Radio 5 Live pundit Chris Waddle
1859: Player Rater - Guess who's winning. Go on. Nope, try again. It's still Libor Sionko and that does justice to his terrific display, very lively - deserved his goal and probably for his team to get something too. He's on 7.65, while Cristiano Ronaldo, once more the match-winner, is on just 5.85. Ronaldo, with a sub-six score. I never thought I'd live to see the day.
Rate the players
1855: Hello again.
1851: FULL-TIME Czech Republic 1-3 Portugal
1850: "Stevenson got it right. Stevenson got it right. Stevenson got it right. No, no matter how many times I type it, it doesn't sink in."
nickslick75 on 606
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1848: GOAL Czech Republic 1-3 Portugal
Cristiano Ronaldo times a run to perfection on halfway and races through on goal, unselfishly passing square for Ricardo Quaresma to tap into an empty net. Game over and harsh on Karel Bruckner's side.
1847: Libor Sionko swivels on the edge of the box and sends a volley over the bar. Fair play to the Czechs, they have done everything to try and get level.
1846: Marek Jankulovski sends over a devilish free-kick from the right and somehow it evades Milan Baros again, Ricardo punching the ball away and Portugal clearing.
1845: Don't forget, when the whistle goes for full-time here, I'll be moving the live updates to the Switzerland v Turkey page.
Switzerland v Turkey
1843: David Jarolim comes on for Jaroslav Plasil and that's the last change of the game.
1842: "These Spain and Holland lovers need to broaden their minds. Anyone remember Argentina at the last World Cup? Peaking too early and flattering to deceive."
Laurence, London, via text
1840: Great chance. Libor Sionko climbs high to get his head on a cross from the right, but Ricardo is equal to his header and tips it over the bar.
1837: Ricardo Quaresma replaces Simao. Portugal are eating up time here.
1836: Portugal take Nuno Gomes off and bring on Hugo Almeida. In the process of going off, Nuno Gomes takes about an hour to hand the armband to Cristiano Ronaldo.
1835: "Ronaldo is nothing without Rooney. Rooney's diagonal running and quick feet enable Ronaldo to showboat and use his pace. If Ronaldo were to leave he would merely be a £20m player, the package of Rooney and Ronaldo is £100m plus. As a Utd fan I'd take £75m for Ronaldo but not for Rooney."
anubisrichon 606
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1834: Milan Baros heads a cross from the right wide and he never looked convincing as he went for it. Maybe Libor Sionko was better placed, slightly behind Baros.
1833: Portugal have a free-kick 25 yards out and Simao hits it straight into the wall. If only they had someone else to take them.
1831: Fernando Meira comes on for Joao Moutinho for Portugal. He's been a touch disappointing - maybe Everton will get him for only £15m now.
1830: The giant Jan Koller (is that his full name?) comes on for Tomas Galasek.
1829: Jan Koller is getting instructions on the bench as he prepares to come on for Czech Republic. Armando Petit is stretchered off for Portugal, but then jumps up off the pitch and wants to come straight back on. Poor behaviour, that.
1828: "Fantastic goal and a good lead for Portugal but I haven't seen anything today that makes me think they could topple Spain, or even Holland."
welsh1623 on 606
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1826: "That can't be the same Libor Sionko that played at Ibrox. Couldn't kick a ball for Rangers. One tournament wonder or a good player?"
Andy, via text
1825: Stanislav Vlcek comes on for Marek Matejovsky for Czech Republic.
1820: GOAL Czech Republic 1-2 Portugal
You know who. Cristiano Ronaldo, after a subdued display, smashes the Portuguese back into the lead with a crisp first-time strike from 16 yards after Deco's cross from the right.
1819: Tomas Ujfalusi gets his head on to a corner from the Czech right and somehow it evades both Libor Sionko and Milan Baros at the far post.
1819: "The Czech midfield have run themselves into the ground and Portugal, as we suspected, are not playing as badly as they did in the first half."
BBC Radio 5 Live pundit Chris Waddle
1817: Come on guys, get the texts coming in on 81111. And don't forget that if you text the word 'euros' to 81010 you will get a link to our Euro 2008 website. Click on that and you're in a world of mobile international football tournament news heaven. Remember, texts to the BBC cost 10p to 15p and that although our site is free for you to access, your network operator will charge you for the amount of data you use.
1815: Much better from the Portuguese, who are having a good spell. Deco weaves himself into some space and plays a lovely pass into Simao's path 18 yards out, the winger's shot saved by the legs of Petr Cech.
1812: David Rozehnal gifts the ball away to Nuno Gomes but recovers brilliantly to get a block in as the striker fires in his shot.
1810: They just showed the great, great Eusebio in the crowd. Portugal, start playing for him. On the pitch, Nuno Gomes turns Marek Jankulovski on the edge of the box, but his shot is straight down Petr Cech's throat.
1808: "(See 1801) Great tactics Stevo, let's see the three most egotistical, selfish players in the world all on the pitch at the same time and see what happens."
Jols Barber on 606
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Yeah, let's.
1805: Magnificent stuff from the Czechs. Marek Matejovsky plays a stunning pass inside the full-back for Libor Sionko and his cross fizzes across the Portuguese goal with Milan Baros trying, but failing to get on the end of it. Super stuff.
1804: Great stuff from Pepe. He wins the ball cleanly from Milan Baros and lopes forward into the Czech Republic's half, eventually winning a corner which comes to nothing.
1804: "Is the Portuguese commentator next to us trying to break the world record for the number of words you can speak in a minute?"
BBC Radio 5 Live pundit Chris Waddle
1802: Czech Republic get us back under way in Geneva.
1801: My advice to Big Phil is the same as a lot of you are saying - take off Nuno Gomes, play Ronaldo through the middle and put Quaresma or Nani on. I still think they'll improve enough to win this one.
1758: Don't forget to get involved with You Are The Ref during Euro 2008. Today is number four in our series and it's proving a difficult one to judge as always. Also, aren't the drawings just absolutely brilliant? Well I think they are.
You Are The Ref
1755: Player Rater: Czech Republic goalscorer Libor Sinko is leading the way at this stage of proceedings with 7.61, but Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo is sturggling a bit on surely one of his lowest ever marks - just 5.72.
Rate the players
1750: "I've been very impressed with the Czechs after I gave them a hammering for their display against the Swiss. Their tempo is good and they've worked hard. Portugal have been very disappointing and they surely can't play that badly again?"
BBC Radio 5 Live pundit Chris Waddle
1746: HALF-TIME Czech Republic 1-1 Portugal
1746: Ronaldo fires in a free-kick from 25 yards that falls in front of Petr Cech and he deals with it easily.
1743: Ronaldo races towards goal and goes down theatrically after he is brushed in the face by a defender. You don't need me to describe it to you - you've all seen it before. You know when people touch their face to see if they're bleeding when they've hardly been caught? Embarrassing.
1741: He just came to life. Ronaldo hits a sizzling left-footer from 30 yards that is arrowing into the far corner and Petr Cech dives across his line and pushes the ball away.
1738: "This is possibly the best game so far. The Netherlands v Italy was pretty good though. I'm just wondering why Ronaldo isn't stepping up?"
chels_or_else on 606
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Beats me. Portugal look distinctly average at the moment and he needs to get on the ball much more.
1736: Milan Baros is causing Ricardo Carvalho all sorts of problems. After their respective performances in the Premier League last season, I can't quite believe I just wrote that sentence.
1734: Nuno Gomes has been very, very quiet so far and he cannot get his head on to a Paulo Ferreira cross from the left. Portugal are very much second best at the moment.
1730: Jose Bosingwa is cautioned for a naughty trip on Tomas Galasek after he had made a searing run down the right and after his cross came back out to him, lost the ball to the Czech sitter.
1728: Ricardo gets nowhere near a corner to the far post and Libor Sionko's volley back across the six-yard box is eventually cleared by the Portuguese defence.
1726: "If Ronaldo is the new Graeme Hick, is Ryan Sidebottom the new Karel Poborsky?"
Mac, via text
1723: This game has goals in it, and lots of them (well cursed Stevo). Deco cuts in from the left past some non-existent tackles and fires in a right-foot shot that flies just past the angle. Moments later, Ronaldo shoots from 25 yards and Petr Cech gets down well to his left to save.
1721: I do believe we've just witnessed our first equaliser of the tournament. Meanwhile, Jan Polak is booked for an enthusiastic challenge on Pepe.
1719: "Portugal's problem is that they haven't got anyone in midfield to do the enforcing - to win the ball when you really need it to be won."
BBC Radio 5 Live pundit Chris Waddle
1716: GOAL Czech Republic 1-1 Portugal
Libor Sionko levels for the Czechs. Jaroslav Plasil swings over a corner from the right and one of the smallest men on the pitch, Sionko, powers a diving header into the roof of the Portugal net. Great finish, quality game.
1715: Armando Petit smashes one in from 30 yards that Petr Cech deals with, though the big Chelsea keeper didn't look massively comfortable in doing so. Up the other end and Milan Baros gets a run on his defender and heads a cross from the right over the bar.
1713: "Is it too much to hope that the Czechs will have a chant for Ujfalusi to the tune of Chas 'n' Dave's 'Snooker Loopy'?"
JTW, via text
1711: "(See 1652) If Ronaldo's the new Graham Hick, do you reckon he'd be willing to step up and replace Ian Bell in England team? (I think he's lived here long enough to qualify)."
LFCSnumber8 on 606
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1707: GOAL Czech Republic 0-1 Portugal
Deco scrambles in and the Portuguese are in front. It was a very scrappy goal, Nuno Gomes playing the ball into the box, Tomas Ujfalusi getting a nick on it and after Deco had been denied once by a sprawling Petr Cech, he eventually squeezes in the rebound. Harsh after a good start from the Czechs.
1706: "Does anyone else reckon Ronaldo still has one important penalty miss left in him?"
Andy, Cambridge, via text
If Portugal are awarded a penalty, it would be their first in European Championship finals history. They have gone 20 matches without one until now.
1703: Libor Sionko drifts in from the right and hits a left-foot shot that cannons off the head off Pepe and away to safety.
1701: Ronaldo, having got some joy down the left against Turkey, starts from there tonight. Crucially, it pits him against the Czech's right-back Zdenek Grygera and not their awesome left-back Marek Jankulovski.
1700: We are under way.
1658: I think the Portuguese anthem is my favourite. It just sounds so passionate. Moments away from kick-off here.
1656: "No Stevo! I just lumped a fiver on 3-1 Portugal and you've gone and jinxed it."
Kitman, Ealing, via text
1655: The teams are out. Once again, sounds like a cracking atmosphere in the Stade de Geneve.
1654: "In the first game, what did the Czechs actually create apart from the goal? Absolutely nothing. Jan Koller didn't look happy with his fitness and Milan Baros normally comes up with the goods in a Czech shirt."
BBC Radio 5 Live pundit Chris Waddle
1652: News just in: Portugal will be wearing white.
1652: "Ronaldo is the footballing equivalent of a flat-track bully, a very good player but not great. If I was a Utd fan I would bite the hand off anyone offering £60m. You might see Rooney start to flourish once the show pony has gone."
MattChall on 606
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So you think Cristiano Ronaldo is the new Graeme Hick? Extraordinary shout.
1649: "(See 1626) Jonathan. I know the J-man and he is in fact being serious. He himself does have a shocking head of hair so disregard all that he says."
Juan, Ipswich, via text
Thanks mate, you only need to tell me Juance.
1645: "For the conspiracy theorists out there, Luiz Felipe Scolari was quoted as saying Ronaldo should move to Real a couple of weeks ago. He is now favourite for the Chelsea manager's job. Conflict of interests?"
Desolation_row on 606
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Ooh, I love a good conspiracy theory, Desolation Row.
1642: The last time these two teams met, would you believe, was at Euro 96. Ah, what a tournament that was. Anyway, it was in the quarter-finals at Villa Park and the Czechs went through 1-0 thanks to Karel Poborsky's ludicrous scoop goal. Remember?
1639: "I think this is going to be an impressive victory for the Portuguese. The attacking ability along with the solid Moutinho in the midfield with prove to be to much for the Czechs to handle. It's gonna be a cracker."
Pora Di, via text
That boy Joao Moutinho, according to Portuguese newspaper A Bola, is getting closer to a move to Everton. I heard £16m bandied around earlier this week. Thoughts?
Wednesday's gossip column
1634: On the subject of Cristiano Ronaldo, do we think the war of words that has broken out between Manchester United and Real Madrid will have any effect on him? He wasn't at his imperious best on Saturday for sure, but listen to any Portugal fan and they will say he's not quite the same player for them as he is for United. Does he need a great tournament to prove he is the world's undisputed number one?
1630: So something's got to give this afternoon in Geneva. The Czechs have won their last six competitive matches and are unbeaten in their last eight, while Portugal have not lost in 12 competitive games, their joint second-best run.
1626: Good work by the Czech coach to drop Koller. The guy was a chocolate teapot on Saturday. At least with Milan Baros you've got great hair."
The J-Man, Ipswich, via text
Great hair? I really, really hope you're kidding. At least Marek Jankulovski and Tomas Ujfalusi have the decency to look like warriors.
1622: "Turkey and Swiss makes a nice sandwich but probably not a nice football match... I feel a draw coming on but lets hope for a 2-2 even though my money is on another zeros match."
Bernardho on 606
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1619: "I wonder if Man Utd will report Chelsea to Fifa if Petr Cech or Ricardo Carvalho dare to speak to Ronaldo this afternoon."
Nigel, Leeds, via text
1615: "In advance, I predict that whatever Stevo's predictions are, they are wrong."
Fluorescent_Imp on 606
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That's the easiest prediction of all time! I'm going for it today - Czech Republic 1-3 Portugal and Switzerland 1-1 Turkey. Beat that.
1612: So, Czech Republic have made two changes from their opening win over Switzerland. Giant striker Jan Koller has made way for Milan Baros, while midfielder Marek Matejovsky comes in for David Jarolim. The Portuguese are unchanged, with the irrepressible Cristiano Ronaldo aiming to build on his performance in the win over Turkey and further stamp his audacious mark on Euro 2008.
1609: Now it's time for seconds. Group A, which failed to sparkle on Saturday, has a chance to redeem itself. First up we've got the potentially mouth-watering Czech Republic v Portugal in Geneva, the Dark Horse Derby, at 1700 BST. Then, at 1945 BST, hosts Switzerland face Turkey in Basel, with both teams trying to pick up their first points of the competition. There's a bit of history there too, more of which later. You don't need me to tell you to get texting in on 81111 and join the debate on 606.
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1605: No wonder I'm buzzing. We are right into the meat of this tournament now and it has properly taken off. Spain followed the Netherlands' lead in devastating fashion with a display of mesmerising verve and style, complete with a world-class hat-trick from the quicksilver David Villa. And then, just as Greece attempted to kill football once more, the so often infuriating talent of Zlatan Ibrahimovic rendered their efforts point-less and pointless with a goal of pure genius. The Euros are alive!
1602: TEAM NEWS Czech Republic v Portugal
Czech Republic: Cech, Grygera, Ujfalusi, Rozehnal, Jankulovski, Galasek, Sionko, Matejovsky, Polak, Plasil, Baros.
Portugal: Ricardo, Bosingwa, Pepe, Carvalho, Ferreira, Petit, Joao Moutinho, Ronaldo, Deco, Simao, Nuno Gomes.
1600: Yesterday after my Euro Two Thousand And Great shift I went home and watched Match of the Day. When I woke up this morning, I turned my telly on, pressed the red button and watched the highlights of Spain 4-1 Russia (twice) and Greece 0-2 Sweden again. On my way into work just now, I found myself for the first time humming the BBC's theme tune for the Euros, dance group Unkle's version of Mozart Symphony no. 41. I think I'm in love.
BIG MATCH STATS
Head-to-heads
Turkey have won seven of the 14 previous encounters with Switzerland, and lost just four.
In eight competitive matches, Turkey emerged victorious on four occasions and Switzerland twice. They have never met at a major tournament.
Their last encounter dates back to 16 November 2005 when Turkey beat Switzerland 4-2 in a World Cup qualifying play-off. But Switzerland qualified for the 2006 World Cup as they had won the first leg 2-0.
Team facts - Switzerland
Not won any of their previous seven matches at the European Championship (two draws, five defeats). This marks the longest running winless streak in the competition.
Hoping to avoid joining Belgium (2000) as the only European Championship hosts not to survive the group stage, since the introduction of the knock-out stages in 1984.
Team facts - Turkey
Won just one of their eight matches at the European Championship. Their record of one win, one draw and six defeats is the worst by any nation that has played at least eight matches at this tournament. In those matches they have been out-scored by three goals to 11.
Since the introduction of the knock-out stages, seven teams have survived the group stage after losing their opening match. At Euro 2004, Portugal and England were the last to achieve this feat.
Player facts - Switzerland
The hosts will be without all-time top scorer Alexander Frei, who suffered a knee injury in the opening match and will miss the rest of the tournament. During Switzerland's friendly campaign over the past two years, Frei was joint top scorer with eight goals in 11 matches.
If selected, Ricardo Cabanas will make his 50th international appearance for Switzerland.
Basel native Eren Derdiyok is the only teenager amongst the 368 players that will be present at Euro 2008. He will celebrate his 20th birthday on Thursday 12 June, the day after this match.
Tranquillo Barnetta, Johan Vonlanthen and Ludovic Magnin will be suspended for the final group match if they are shown a yellow card in this match.
Player facts - Turkey
The last Turkish player to score a goal at a European Championship was Hakan Sukur. He netted twice on 19 June 2000 against Belgium (2-0) in Turkey's only ever European Championship victory.
Colin Kazim-Richards, Gokhan Zan and Sabri Sarioglu will miss Turkey's final group match if they are shown a yellow card in this match.
Big Match Stats source: Infostrada Sports
(BBC)
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