MILAN: Italy failed on Monday to reach the World Cup for the first time since 1958 as they were held to a 0-0 draw in the second leg of their play-off at the San Siro by Sweden, who qualified with a 1-0 aggregate victory.
The four-time champions dominated possession but struggled to create enough clear-cut chances, as Sweden secured a first appearance at the finals since 2006, courtesy of Jakob Johansson’s first-leg strike in Stockholm.
Despite the support of 74,000 fans in a white-hot atmosphere at the San Siro, the 2006 World Cup winners could not find a way through.
The defeat also marked the end of an illustrious career of legendary Italian goal keeper Gianluigi Buffon.
Let's have a look at how world reacted on Azzurri heartbreak:
Hey @DaveOGrady1 the app has a bug. #Italy won't be in the world cup! #ItalySweden pic.twitter.com/V92yeswfm6
— Calogero Sciabbarrasi (@kalos83) November 13, 2017
You cant have a world cup without #Italy. Who am i going to support when england go out now 🙃😲
— Ashley brown (@Asherb11210) November 13, 2017
Never saw a world cup without #Italy! Come on Italy!
— Chelsea Lover (@footie_junkie) November 13, 2017
#Italy not going to World Cup for the First time since 1958. Mamma Mia.
— Maximiliano Bretos (@mbretosESPN) November 13, 2017
#Italy players on the floor. They can't believe it. Unfortunately it's true, they're not going to the World Cup #ItalySweden pic.twitter.com/tGIpOV9xld
— Daniella Matar (@DaniellaMatar) November 13, 2017
International Soccer has just been rocked. #Sweden is going to #WorldCup2018 #Italy will be playing friendlies vs the #USMNT pic.twitter.com/5jJ9Jk0sdF
— Scoreboard.com (@Scoreboard_com) November 13, 2017
Relatable: #Italy not making the world cup but also me putting off my assignments until the last minute. pic.twitter.com/pgy32v85I7
— Lea Cea (@lea_cea) November 14, 2017
Buffon’s last official game! 😢 pic.twitter.com/YtRtiNa64t
— HASSAN (@hassanjaber__) November 14, 2017
#GianluigiBuffon has played in his last #WorldCup2018 💔 but unfortunately #Italy didn't qualify for ---- #FIFA18 #ItalySweden pic.twitter.com/tiTYQHYt88
— moosaghani (@moosaghani2015) November 14, 2017
? ITALY ELIMINATED
Italy fails to qualify for its first World Cup in 60 years
#Italy #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/pThexOHTes— Arirang News (@arirangtvnews) November 14, 2017
Buffon apologising to his country and the sadness in these pics, showing his heart is absolutely breaking, just kills me.
The respect I have for him, as a player and a person, is beyond words..😥😥 #Italy #BuffonLegend pic.twitter.com/GXfmtmoqqC— Michelle (@Mk1762) November 14, 2017
What happened to you #Italy . we wanted to be with same world cup as you pic.twitter.com/oSZt79d9WJ
— Sally Hossam (@SallyHossam1) November 14, 2017
Italian soccer coach attempts brutal suicide on livestream after team fails to qualify
[remastered 2017] #italy #football #soccer #fifaworldcup #fifa #manchester #liverpoolFC pic.twitter.com/1rH5cJW9sJ— that guy (@Jai_Hind47) November 14, 2017
Football make superhero cry. #Buffon #Italy pic.twitter.com/LP5skgKLyz
— abdul (@halimrahman_) November 14, 2017