Italy fall short in the race for World Cup qualification…

The famous Azzurri have failed to qualify for their first World Cup since 1958. It was a night of total agony and anguish for the dejected Italians last time out, as they proved unable to get the better of Janne Andersson’s Sweden across two startlingly unproductive international outings.

 

Now, Azzurri fans will be forced to watch the upcoming tournament at home once Russia 2018 finally comes into full swing this summer…

 

Italy’s failure did not go down well at home ? pic.twitter.com/mC8J427Id7

— B/R Football (@brfootball) November 14, 2017

 

They aren’t the only international outfit to fail to live up to their collective expectations of late…

 

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

 

…but a World Cup without the Italians remains a hard prospect to imagine…

 

Still feels unreal thinking Italy won’t be in the next World Cup ???

— Elisa (@topolina84) November 14, 2017

 

Russia 2018 will have no place for Gianluigi Buffon…

 

The end of an ERA-Gianluigi Buffon retires after Italy ??failed to Qualify for the 2018 World Cup.The first time in 60 Years that Italy ?? will not partake in the most prestigious tournament in sporting history 'The World Cup'#WELOVEYOULEGEND pic.twitter.com/26iYitBgvT

— Captain Fantastic8 (@nattyroons) November 14, 2017

 

Again, he’s not the only star name to miss out this upcoming summer…

 

Which legend will you miss more at the #WorldCup?

? RT – Buffon
❤️ Like – Zlatan pic.twitter.com/eSuH4dbnh3

— Football Tweets (@FutballTweets) November 14, 2017

 

…yet we’re all going to miss him now that he has finally retired from the international game…

 

"This was my last game for Italy. I'm sorry. We are sorry."

– Gianluigi Buffon. ? pic.twitter.com/rerNOY8Nc6

— Football Tweets (@FutballTweets) November 14, 2017

 

But whilst it feels like the end of an era among the current Italian game…

 

Last night saw Italy miss out on the World Cup finals. But do you know the whole story? pic.twitter.com/QjajY2fSGU

— SportsJOE – Football (@SportsJOE_FC) November 14, 2017

 

…all is not quite lost on the next generation of Azzurri favourites…

 

Italy’s next generation have some ? role models pic.twitter.com/oKL30b88YR

— B/R Football (@brfootball) November 14, 2017

 

In the end, Sweden simply proved their worth when it really mattered most…

 

What a drama.. a world cup without the Italian is not a world cup ..credit to Sweden and their belief as a team

— Pedro Martínez Losa (@PedroMLosa) November 13, 2017

Relevant news