Italy miss out on FIFA World Cup for the first time in 60 years

Italy yesterday played a goalless draw in Milan which meant that they miss out on the world cup for the first time in six decades. Sweden have qualified for their first world cup in 12 years.

Gianluigi Buffon retired from international duty after the loss. He is Italy’s former captain and their most capped player.

Italy are four time world cup winners and their absence from the showpiece event will be a big loss for world football.

The match was played in front of a 70,000 crowd at Milan’s San Siro Stadium. But after the 90 minutes were played out, it was utter disappointment for Italy fans.

The Italians never looked like scoring in the full course of the match. It wasn’t that they were not getting chances but they didn’t took those chances.

The other notable absentees for next year’s tournament are the Netherlands, Chile and United States of America.

Another former champion who were on the verge of not qualifying for the world cup were Argentina. But Leo Messi’s goals against Ecuador helped them qualify.

“It’s a shame my last official game coincided with the failure to qualify for the World Cup,” Buffon said after the game.

“Blame is shared equally between everyone. There can’t be scapegoats.”

Alongside Buffon, Daniele De Rossi also retired from international duties. While Giorgio Chiellini and coach Giampiero Ventura are all expected to leave as well.

With Sweden having secured qualification to next year’s world cup, their are speculations of a Zlatan Ibrahimovic return.

He retired from international duties after last year’s Euro’s. But his audacious return in Swedish colors is being talked upon.

Whatever happens we will have to wait and see. But for now we can all await for 2018 FIFA World Cup to start as time is ticking away.