‘It is an intolerable football shame, an indelible stain’

Press express their anguish as fans struggle to come to terms

The Italian press was unrelenting in its condemnation and backlash after Italy missed out on qualification for the 2018 World Cup finals in Russia.

“Italy, this is the apocalypse,” ran a headline on the website of sports daily Gazzetta dello Sport following Sweden’s 1-0 aggregate win. “Wasted chances, a bit of bad luck but zero goals in 180 minutes against the Swedes, who will go to Russia,” Gazzetta commented.

Corriere dello Sport, said it will be painful for the country to be on the sidelines when the World Cup kicks off in Russia in June.

“It is an intolerable football shame, an indelible stain,” the newspaper said.

“It is over. Apocalypse, tragedy, catastrophe.”

Italian fans were struggling to come to terms with the prospect of a World Cup without their national team. The news was greeted by a mixture of disbelief, dismay and resigned disappointment across the country.

In Rome’s trendy San Lorenzo district, the Le Mura bar, which showed the game on a big screen, emptied at the final whistle.

“It is really very sad because watching the World Cup was something that really brought us together as Italians,” said student Stefania Pusateri.

“But what is sure is that the shock will be even worse for my father. He is 54 years old and he has never had to go through something like this.”

Friend Davide Penna concurred. “I still can’t believe it has happened,” he said. “We have never experienced anything like this. It’s over.”

Similar sentiments were voiced by fans coming out of the San Siro stadium in Milan after Monday’s 0-0 draw.

“I am disappointed with the whole football system in Italy,” said Mirko Palmieri. “It is the umpteenth failure of our country. Even here (at the San Siro), we can’t get the job done.”