Ventura’s Italy can’t countenance elimination

GIAMPIERO VENTURA may not want to think about it, but the fact is that the 69-year-old is 90 minutes away from becoming only the second coach in Italy’s rich history to fail to get the Azzurri to a major finals.

You have to go back to 1958 for the one and only World Cup that Italy have missed — but if they fail to overturn a 1-0 deficit against Sweden at the San Siro tomorrow night, Russia 2018 will be the second.

Holland, Chile and the United States are the biggest absentees so far, but a World Cup without four-time winners Italy would be nigh-on unthinkable.

Which is why Ventura is not thinking about it. ‘We are not taking into consideration the idea of not going to the World Cup,’ he stated.

A Jakob Johansson goal separates the sides after Friday’s first leg in Stockholm and the Italians, who only mustered a single shot on target during a dire performance, will be without the suspended Marco Verratti in Milan.

After the first leg, Ventura turned up the heat on the officials. He said: ‘This result is punishing. I hope that in Milan the officials give to us what they granted to them here.

‘In a match as important as this, we want a more even-handed approach.’

Former World Cup winner Andrea Pirlo, who announced his retirement last week, said: ‘It will be hard for Ventura to find the right motivation for the group in the next three days. We look poor.’

Meanwhile, Oceanic flag-bearers Australia and New Zealand could both make it to Russia after giving themselves good chances in their play-offs.

The Aussies take on Honduras in Sydney on Wednesday having drawn 0-0 away, while the Kiwis have to go to Peru on the same night, having also drawn 0-0.