Live
Audio Only
For the first time since 1958, Italy has not qualified for the World Cup of soccer.
RELATED:
Meet the Telstar 18, the Ball for Russia 2018 World Cup
The team's 14-straight world cup appearance streak was broke after they ended the second fixture of a return-leg playoff with Sweden in a goalless draw.
Fans exiting Milan's San Siro stadium after the match were critical of the state of Italian football.
"I am disappointed with the whole football system in Italy," said Mirko Palmieri. "It is the umpteenth failure of our country. Even here (at the San Siro), we can't get the job done."
One supporter told AFP: "I was born with Italy being a part of the World Cup, and it has always been like that. Tomorrow I will wake up and my life will go on but this summer I will do something else."
While, another fan added: "The disappointment is a double one – first because we are not good, but second because we were beaten by a team that is even worse than us."
Defender Paolo Cannavaro hurled blame at the "mummies who control Italian football" and hit out at foreign Serie A players in a lengthy post on Instagram.
"Guys, we didn't lose the World Cup today [Monday]. We lost it 15 years ago when thanks to incredible cashing in by those in the football world, Italy brought in flops from every area of the world to unfairly steal places from our lads…" Cannavaro wrote on Instagram.
"We gave them glory and fame thanks to our Italian coaches, who remain the best in the world. I only hope that now we've hit rock bottom there can finally be a reformation of OUR FOOTBALL!
"Goodbye to the mummies who control Italian football and space for the youth off the field as well! Get out of our damn way, thank you…
"Honour to the great Gigi Buffon who lost the possibility of being the only player to take part in six World Cups, and despite the fact he didn't manage it, still went in front of the cameras!!! Hopefully, your tears were the last to be spilled for our football!!!!
"Let us support the young Italy that will come!!!! Let us return to being the Italy that the entire world envied! Unfortunately, this had to happen for us to wake up!!!!"
The Swedes managed to clip the Italians 1-0 in the first match, to go through on aggregate.
The four-time champions skipped the first World Cup in 1930, but they have been present at every other championship, except 1958 – when they also failed to qualify.
Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport even described the loss as the "apocalypse."
But, the elimination of the Italians – which has ruined 60 years of consistent world cup births – was not entirely shocking, considering the team's first-round exist in the 2014 tournament.
Fans, however, experienced some despondence at the pending absence.
"It is really very sad because watching the World Cup was something that really brought us together as Italians," one student, Stefania Pusateri, stated after watching the game in a pub.
"But what is sure is that the shock will be even worse for my father. He is 54-years-old and he has never had to go through something like this."
Pusateri's friend Davide Penna echoed the sentiment.
"I still can't believe it has happened," he said, according to an AFP report. "We have never experienced anything like this. It's over."
Cyber fans longed for the contributions of legend Andrea Pirlo and posted sympathetic tributes for newly retired much-revered goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon – Italy's most capped (175) player.
Buffon said: "I am not sorry for myself but all of Italian football. We failed at something which also means something on a social level."
It appears Gianluigi Buffon has played his final game for Italy. He will be much missed. A mountain of a man. A Giant of a goalkeeper. A credit to his sport.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) November 13, 2017
The Swedish defence withstood attacks from a 70-plus percent possession by the Azzurri.
The Jan Andersson-coached Sweden earned their keep and, in turn, will participate in the 2018 World Cup, the first time since 2006.
Newsletter
