Four-time World Cup winner Italy on Monday failed to qualify for the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 1958, after it was defeated in a playoff against Sweden.
Italy trailed Sweden 1-0 target ahead of their second-leg match at the San Siro here and over 90 feverish minutes the hosts failed to score against their opponents, reported the Independent.
Following the incident, veteran goalkeeper Gigi Buffon announced his retirement from the international football and apologized for his team's failure.
"I'm not sorry for myself, but I am sorry for all of Italian football," Buffon said.
"We failed at something which also means something on a social level. There's regret at finishing like that, not because time passes," he added.
Italy last failed to qualify for the World Cup in 1958. It has won the World Cup four times, most recently in 2006.
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors
Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share
Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor
Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements
Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app