One World Cup dream achieved, one shattered
Italy failed to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1958 after they were held to a goalless home draw by Sweden in the second leg of their playoff yesterday.
Sweden advanced to their first World Cup since 2006.
It could have been worse for Italy, as Sweden were denied what looked like two clearcut penalties for handballs, first by Matteo Darmian and then Andrea Barzagli.
Italy had a penalty appeal of their own waved off by referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz when Marco Parolo was tripped from behind by Ludwig Augsustinsson.
But the Azzurri struggled to carve out clear chances against a solid Sweden side, and really tested goalkeeper Robin Olsen only once.
This will be only the second World Cup missed by Italy. The first was in 1958.
It would be easy to lay the blame squarely on Gian Piero Ventura. The Italy coach will naturally take the lion’s share but the Azzurri’s problems run much deeper.
After winning the World Cup in 2006 for a fourth time, Italy went out at the group stage of the next two editions. They fared somewhat better at the European Championship, reaching the final in 2012 and going out in the quarterfinals in 2008 and 2016.
However, Antonio Conte’s Italy side over-achieved in France last year, when it surprisingly beat Spain in the round of 16 before losing on penalties to world champion Germany. For a long time, Italy has lacked creative force. The likes of a Andrea Pirlo and Francesco Totti of the 2006 side could change a match with one moment of magic. Both are long retired.
Mario Balotelli was the star of Euro 2012 but fell out of favour after Italy’s woeful showing at the last World Cup, and hasn’t been called up by Ventura.
The lack of stars in the Italy team is reflected in the Italian league.
Juventus have been a force to be reckoned with in recent years in Europe, where they have reached two out of the past three Champions League finals. But while their defence forms the backbone of the Italy team, their midfield and attack are made up mainly of foreign players.
The Brazilian-born Jorginho was finally handed his competitive debut by Ventura, and the midfielder impressed with some deft passing.
Meanwhile, the highly rated Lorenzo Insigne surprisingly played only 15 minutes of the playoff - and out of position.
Those three players are 26 or under and, along with forwards Ciro Immobile and Andrea Belotti, could form the spine of a rejuvenated Italy side for several years to come.