Italy fail to qualify for FIFA World Cup

Italy has failed to qualify for the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 1958.The four-time champions failed to make the cut after they lost the World Cup Qualifying European play-off against Sweden, 0-1. 

Sweden had won the first leg of the tie 1-0, while the second leg ended as a goal-less draw in Milan last night.

The defeat means Italy will not be present in the competition for only the



second time in their history.They had declined to play at the inaugural tournament in 1930. 

Italy has now joined the Netherlands, US, Chile, Ghana, Ivory Coast and Cameroon in the list of big nations that have failed to qualify to tournament which will be held in Russia in June next year.

With the win, Sweden has reached the World Cup for the first time since 2006.