Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
IT’S PIZZA CAKE FOR SWEDES AS ITALY FALL
ITALY have failed to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1958 after being shut out by Sweden at a sold-out San Siro last night.
Trailing 1-0 on aggregate to a Jakob Johansson goal scored in Friday’s first leg in Stockholm, Giampiero Ventura’s Azzurri were cheered on by almost 72,000 Italian fans in Milan.
But despite laying siege to the Scandinavian defence over 90 feverish minutes, Italy could not make the breakthrough and the goalless draw was enough for Sweden to reach Russia 2018.
It was always going to be hard for Italy to get their own way in the Swedish capital, but with a wealth of striking options, one of the stingiest defences in Europe and arguably the best goalkeeper in the world in Gianluigi Buffon, much more was expected from this return clash.
Buffon (above) may be hardest hit by Italy’s failure to reach the summer finals. At 39, the Juventus stopper had already decided to quit international football after the tournament and his 175th cap, won on a dismal night in Milan, may be his last.
Manolo Gabbiadini got the nod perhaps surprisingly ahead of Lorenzo Insigne - to lead the line alongside Lazio striker Ciro Immobile.
The Southampton player was first to test the Swedes’ resolve, finding his shot blocked before Manchester United’s Matteo Darmian, deployed on the left wing, blasted wide of goal.
After the break Darmian had a penalty shout rejected after controlling Florenzi’s cross - Spanish referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz instead called handball.
The Azzurri threatened again with Florenzi blasting high from a pinpoint winger’s cross by defensive stalwart Giorgio Chiellini.
Sweden keeper Robin Olsen faced a few desperate moments as time ticked away.
The FC Copenhagen keeper parried a bullet header from Parolo and with three minutes remaining, punched substitute Stephan El Shaarawy’s powerful drive to safety.