Italy to miss first World Cup since 1958
Four-time champion Italy failed to qualify for the World Cup for the first time in six decades after losing to Sweden 1-0 on aggregate.
Despite three quarters of possession, Italy was stymied by a 0-0 draw in the second leg of the playoffs at San Siro on Monday.
“It’s a black moment for our game,” Italy midfielder Daniele De Rossi said. “The only thing I can say is that we showed few ideas and not much in the way of tactics.”
Sweden advanced to its first World Cup since 2006.
“We all need to look within and find a way to bounce back,” Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini said. “We need to get back to the level we deserve to be at.”
This will be only the second World Cup missed by Italy. The first was in 1958.
Tennis
NADAL WITHDRAWS FROM ATP FINALS » Rafael Nadal withdrew from the elite, season-ending ATP Finals after losing his opening match to David Goffin 7-6 (5), 6-7 (4), 6-4 in London.
Nadal pulled out of the Paris Masters at the quarterfinal stage 10 days ago because of knee problems.
Despite having qualified 13 consecutive times for the ATP Finals, Nadal has never won the event. His exit simplifies the path for Roger Federer, who returns to action against Alexander Zverev today after defeating Jack Sock on Sunday.
Earlier Monday, Grigor Dimitrov beat Dominic Thiem 6-3, 5-7, 7-5.
College football
WYOMING’S ALLEN INJURES SHOULDER » Wyoming quarterback Josh Allen, who has been viewed as a possible high NFL draft pick next year, injured his right shoulder during the Cowboys’ win over Air Force, leaving his status in doubt for Saturday’s game against Fresno State.
CYCLONES’ KEMPT LISTED AS DAY TO DAY » Iowa State coach Matt Campbell says quarterback Kyle Kempt is day to day with an undisclosed injury. Kempt and redshirt freshman Zeb Noland are the only available quarterbacks left with two games to go.
GATORS ARE AGAIN SWITCHING QUARTERBACKS » Florida is switching quarterbacks for the fourth time in seven weeks, with interim coach Randy Shannon saying Feleipe Franks will start Saturday against UAB, regaining his spot on the depth chart following an injury to Malik Zaire.
Franks started five games this season, but the Gators turned to Luke Del Rio in early October, went back to Franks the following week and then started Zaire after the program parted ways with Coach Jim McElwain two weeks ago. NEBRASKA QB IN CONCUSSION PROTOCOL » Nebraska coach Mike Riley says quarterback Tanner Lee is in the concussion protocol and redshirt freshman Patrick O’Brien would prepare as if he will start Saturday at 13th-ranked Penn State.
Olympics
RUSSIA SEEKS WADA HELP IN PROBE » Russian law enforcement officials have asked the World Anti-Doping Agency to join its investigation into new information about doping cases.
WADA said it had obtained a database of all drug-test data from the Moscow laboratory from 2012-15, which could back up allegations by the lab’s then-director Grigory Rodchenkov of a vast doping conspiracy.