The Italian football team will miss out on World Cup contention for the first time in sixty years, following a nil-all draw against Sweden in a do-or-die qualifying play-off.
FT | It’s over. Sweden are going to the World Cup. #ItalySweden pic.twitter.com/i2zXlo6ngl
— Italy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@Azzurri_En) November 13, 2017
The Azzurri, who went into the game facing a one-goal deficit following Sweden’s 1-0 victory in the previous leg, failed to capitalise at the San Siro despite maintaining 73% of possession.
Seemingly valid penalty shouts went unanswered for both teams during the tense decider, with the ref dismissing both teams’ appeals. In any case, a rock-solid Swedish defence diminished Italy’s few remaining chances to put one in the net.
Talismanic goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon addressed supporters after his last-ever match for the Italian squad, tearfully addressing the impact of his nation’s absence from the competition.
“I’m not sorry for myself but all of Italian football,” he said. “We failed at something which also means something on a social level.”
This legend did not deserve to go out like this. Truly pain!
Buffon ❤️pic.twitter.com/NNMfmLbUCf
— Kush (@footballkush) November 13, 2017
Italy won the thing in 2006. They also conquered the world three times prior. Now, they join The Netherlands as football juggernauts who won’t even make an appearance in Russia.
Meanwhile, Sweden is absolutely cheering.
We did it!!! We are in the World Cup! 🇸🇪🏆⚽️ #Sverige #Sweden #WorldCupQualifiers pic.twitter.com/vskMCHbMrM
— Marc Jungermann (@MarcJungermann) November 13, 2017
