THE ITALIAN SOB
WORLD CUP 2018 It’s end of the world as Swedes ruin big send-off PLAY-OFF DRAMA
ITALY will not be in Russia next summer – after failing to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1958. A sold-out San Siro roared on the Azzurri against Sweden last night as they battled to overcome the 1-0 deficit from Friday’s first leg in Stockholm. But they couldn’t make the breakthrough over 90 frenzied minutes.
A goalless draw was enough to book Sweden’s World Cup ticket – and leave the stunned Italians in tears.
ITALIAN football suffered one of its greatest disasters as the national side missed out on the World Cup finals for the first time in 60 years.
Despite relentless pressure and countless chances last night the Azzurri failed to overturn a 1-0 first-leg deficit against Sweden, plunging the nation into anger and despair.
Now November 13, 2017 will go down in infamy as one of its darkest nights.
In the short term, coach Gian Piero Ventura is certain to be axed and Gigi Buffon will retire.
The legendary keeper had hoped to bow out by playing at his sixth World Cup.
But Buffon said: “We know how to get back up again as we’ve always done. I’m leaving an Italy side that will know how to speak for itself.
“Blame is shared equally. There can’t be scapegoats. Win together, lose together.”
But the shockwaves will reverberate far and wide in a country whose national team has been a fixture at 14 successive finals and has won the World Cup four times.
Ventura’s side carved out enough chances in the San Siro but a combination of bad luck, bad finishing and inspired defending denied them.
The upshot is that today a bewildered, disbelieving nation is waking up to the prospect of watching Russia 2018 without the famous blue jerseys.
In contrast the Swedish side, containing Celtic defender Mikael Lustig, have become instant national heroes.
Sweden’s success will rule Lustig out of Celtic’s opening Champions League qualifiers next season, if as expected Brendan Rodgers’ side retain their Premiership title.
The defender, who turns 31 next month, will not care a jot though when he has the opportunity to play at his first and perhaps only World Cup.
Italy started positively but were finding it tough to create clear-cut chances. They did manage to carve Sweden’s defence open in 27 minutes when the ball eventually fell for Antonio Candreva but his effort skimmed the bar.
Ciro Immobile got on the end of a gorgeous Jorginho pass and beat keeper Robin Olsen, only for captain Andreas Granqvist to get back to clear.
Allessandro Florenzi had a chance just before half-time but Olsen saved brilliantly.
The second half opened with an Italy penalty claim when Lustig’s knee connected with Matteo Darmian’s ribcage but Spanish referee Antonio Lahoz was unmoved. In 53 minutes Florenzi again came close, this time with an acrobatic volley.
In the 87th minute Stephan El Shaarawy crashed in a volley that was well saved.
As the match ticked over into added time Buffon hauled his ageing body upfield for their last two corners.
But it was all in vain, and when Lahoz blew for time the Azzurri players collapsed on the turf as a crescendo of boos rang around the San Siro. The unthinkable had happened. WORLD CUP QUALIFYING PLAY-OFF, 2ND LEG MIDWEEK