Merkel at least half-heartedly ran as a reformer, even nominating a flat-tax proponent as her shadow finance minister.

WSJ: Daniel Schwammenthal: Germany��s Free-Market FDP Is on the Rise

However, aside from a Cole snap-shot on the turn on the stroke of half-time, Ancelotti's men looked blunt going forward and were a shadow of the side that had plundered 14 goals in their three preious matches.

BBC: Aston Villa 0-3 Chelsea

First, GM is a shadow of the former giant, which once employed over one-half million.

FORBES: Big Corporations Look Like Better Borrowers Than Uncle Sam

For Labour, shadow work and pensions secretary Liam Byrne called it a "very hazy and half-baked plan from the prime minister, when what we really need is a serious back-to-work programme".

BBC: Cameron suggests cutting housing benefit for under-25s