For the first time in sixty years, Italy will not be at a World Cup. They were not good enough to break down Sweden at the San Siro tonight, a 0-0 draw consigning them to a 1-0 defeat in aggregate. Italy were perhaps unfortunate to find themselves in a qualifying group with Spain, but in truth they were not good enough. In something Irish fans can empathise with, they drew away to Macedonia.
It is a significant for another reason: it ends Gigi Buffon's magnificent international career, across which he amassed 174 caps, a World Cup and countless admirers.
Manager (far from an Ace) Ventura will face some serious questions now, having left Lorenzo Insigne on the bench for the full game as Italy knocked it long in hope rather than expectation.
Not that he was willing to answer them tonight:
Ventura decides not to face the cameras and speak to RAI
— James Horncastle (@JamesHorncastle) November 13, 2017
Here is a portion of the reaction among the football world.
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Italy 😳 #WorldCup2018
— Lukas-Podolski.com (@Podolski10) November 13, 2017
Last time Italy didn't qualify for a World Cup, 6 of the 29 (20.6%) countries that are already qualified for this one didn't even exist. Amazing.
— Tiago Estêvão (@TiagoEstv) November 13, 2017
Wow!! Italy out of the World Cup in Russia. Sweden defended like their lives depended on it. Buffon a class act after the match. No crying. Just congratulated Swedes. Class. Legend. 👏🏻👏🏻 Well done 🇸🇪👏🏻👏🏻
— Joey Barton🏴 (@Joey7Barton) November 13, 2017
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Italy were absolute rubbish.
— John Brewin (@JohnBrewin_) November 13, 2017
Tough for Italy to conjure a conspiracy theory out of 180 minutes plus. #ITASVE
— Jim Beglin (@jimbeglin) November 13, 2017
Mamma Mia! Italy, 6 times World Cup finalists, 4 times World Cup winners, ever-present in the World Cup finals since 1958 have failed to qualify for #Russia2018. It won’t be quite the same without them. Arrivederci.
— Gary Lineker 💙 (@GaryLineker) November 13, 2017
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No Italy. No Chile. No Netherlands. No USA. Maybe it’s time to consider a 48 team World Cup....oh wait a minute.
— Gary Lineker 💙 (@GaryLineker) November 13, 2017
If nothing else, Italy showing what a great job Conte did with them at Euro 2016. They were *arguably* the most impressive team until Germany beat them on pens in QF
— Oliver Kay (@OliverKay) November 13, 2017
But if Italy aren’t going to the World Cup, who are Ireland going to beat?!?!
— Mike McLoughlin (@zuroph) November 13, 2017
No Italian national anthem at the World Cup next year
— Phil Egan (@philegansport) November 13, 2017
Italy not in the World Cup... the bottom of a slippery slope that the team has been sliding down for the last 10 years
— Martyn Ziegler (@martynziegler) November 13, 2017
