ITALIANS HAVE IT ALL TO DO

A SECOND-HALF goal by Sweden substitute Jakob Johansson was enough to beat Italy 1-0 and put his side in the driving seat after their World Cup playoff first leg in Stockholm.

The visitors showed little ambition, seemingly hoping for a draw to take back to Milan for Monday’s second leg as they battle for a place at next year’s tournament in Russia.

That all changed when Johansson came off the bench and in the 61st minute his low drive was deflected past Gianluigi Buffon.

Matteo Darmian came closest to an equaliser, blasting a shot off a post, but the visiting forward line failed to ignite and Italy are in danger of missing the finals for the first time since 1958.