The Kremlin's main explanation for Mr Litvinenko's demise is to blame both it and the Politkovskaya killing on hostile forces bent on discrediting Mr Putin.

I would guess it would be hard to trick anyone that way and the elegance of the freely wandering secret once released makes me wonder about that source.

"The situation cannot be compared with last year," explained the striker. "This time we'll play the second leg at home."