Italy misses out on World cup for the first time in 60 years

Four time winners of the World cup tournament, Italy will for the first time since 1958, miss out on the opportunity to participate in a World cup tournament after failing to win their play-off game against Sweden.

The Azzurris played out a 0-0 draw with Sweden in a World Cup qualifying play-off second leg on Monday, after initially falling to a 1-0 defeat in Stockholm in the first leg on Friday.

The result means Sweden will be flying to Russia 2018 at the expense of Italy who will have to wait another four years before getting another opportunity.