The Italians on Monday confirmed that they wouldn't be part of the 2018 World Cup in Russia after their barren draw against Sweden at San Siro Stadium in Milan. The Italians on Thursday lost 1-0 to Sweden in the first leg of the World Cup qualifications playoff. The loss in Sweden was making it compulsory for Giampiero Ventura's side to win by a margin of two goals to make it to Russia.
The Italians had failed to get the automatic qualification to the event in Russia after failing to clinch the top spot in their qualification. It's hard to blame the 2006 World Champions for not securing the first position in Group G given that European giant, Spain was also in the group.
The Italians had won the 2006 World Cup that was staged in Germany while Spain took the 2010 World Cup that South Africa hosted.
What transpired in the 0-0 draw
The Italian went into the match knowing too well that it was only a victory with a two-goal cushion that would send them to the next year's World Cup that Russia is gracing. With just Marco Verratti suspended, Giampiero Ventura had the rest of his team available for selection. The manager opted to rest Andrea Belletti and Eder while started with the duo of Ciro Immobile and Manolo Gabiadini in the attack, but nothing came to fruition even after making substitutions.
Janne Anderson went into the match with a clean bill of health on his team.
The Swedish national team tactician never had any of his players suspended for the contest has his team made the trip to Italy. Sweden never managed to qualified for the last two World Cup events, so the team was determined not to miss out on three tournaments in a row. The game yielded a massive nine yellow cards with the hosts receiving four while the remaining five going to the visitors.
Sweden overcame The Italian in the two-leg contest despite only having an average team with only a few players plying their trades in top European clubs.
World ranking
Sweden defied the FIFA ranking respect on Monday when they crushed Italy out of the journey to Russia. After the 0-0 after yesterday's contest, the two sides are ten places apart in the current FIFA ranking with Italy occupying position fifteen while Sweden is at number twenty-five.
Interestingly, Italy moved two places in front of the global ranking after their elimination while Sweden moved two spots behind after securing a berth to Russia.
After taking the 2006 World Cup, Italy found the last events very challenging with the Gli Azzurri failing to go past the group stages on each occasion. Until their exit at the hands of Sweden, Italy had only was unable to take part in World Cup two times where the Italians didn't make an entry in the first-ever World Cup that Uruguay hosted in 1930. Coincidentally, the only World Cup fete that Italians had ever failed to qualify for before this one was in 1958 which Sweden hosted.
Despite crashing out of the competition, Italy remains one of the most decorated national sides after bagging four World Cup crowns.
Only Brazil who has won the trophy five times and clinched the title more than the Italians. Italy has also finished as runners-up twice in the event in the eight semi-finals they've reached. Sweden best finish in the World Cup competition remains the 1958 event where the Blagults were the runners-up after hosting the tournament.
