If the government in Moscow comes to the conclusion, during the presidency of Vladimir Putin or afterwards, that it cannot otherwise bring under control either the country's regional dukedoms or the plutocrats who rose to almost uncontrollable wealth under Boris Yeltsin's tolerant gaze, it may reckon that its only hope of survival is a chest-thumping, rally-all-Russians foreign policy.

ECONOMIST: Weathering the storm

Drogba then gave Chelsea hope, if only for a matter of seconds, when he took Michael Essien's pass on his chest and drilled a low finish beyond Van der Sar.

BBC: Man Utd 2-1 Chelsea (agg 3-1)