Milan, Nov 14 (AFP) Italy failed to reach the World Cupfor the first time since 1958 as they were held to a 0-0 drawin the second leg of their play-off at the San Siro by Sweden,who qualified with a 1-0 aggregate victory.
The four-time champions dominated possession butstruggled to create enough clear-cut chances, as Swedensecured a first appearance at the finals since 2006 courtesyof Jakob Johansson's first-leg strike in Stockholm.
Despite the support of 74,000 fans in a white-hotatmosphere at the San Siro the 2006 World Cup winners couldnot find a way through.
It is the third time that the Italians will not competeat the World Cup, after not going to the first edition in 1930and not qualifying for the 1958 finals in Sweden.
It marks the end of an era for iconic goalkeeperGianluigi Buffon who will not be able to compete in a recordsixth World Cup.
At 39, the 175-times capped Buffon had announced that thefinals in Russia would be his last as a player for thenational side.
"I'm sorry, sorry, sorry," a tearful Buffon told Raitelevision as he confirmed he was ending his internationalcareer.
"I'm not sorry for myself but all of Italian football,because we failed at something which also means something on asocial level.
"It's the only regret I have. Not stopping, because timepasses and it's normal. I regret just that my final match withthe national side coincides with an elimination.
"I leave a squad of talent that will have their say,including (Gianluigi) Donnarumma and (Mattia) Perin. I embraceall those who have supported me."Without star Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who retired from thenational team after Euro 2016, Sweden sealed a return to theworld stage after failing to reach the last two editions. Thelast time the Scandinavians participated was in 2006.
"I'm emotional and very happy," said Sweden coach JanneAndersson. "This match showed our collective strength.
"With Ibrahimovic we played differently. He's retired andhe's a great champion. So we adapted and we play in anotherway now."It was a mediocre performance by the hosts with AntonioCandreva firing over and Sweden goalkeeper Robin Olsen denyingAlessandro Florenzi and Ciro Immobile.
Mikael Lustig almost scored an own goal when hisdeflection hit the bar.
Marco Verratti sat out a ban with Simone Zaza andLeonardo Spinazzola both injured, with Daniele De Rossi andAndrea Belotti not fully fit.
Coach Gian Piero Ventura gave Brazil-born Jorginho hisfirst competitive appearance for Italy with Florenzi andManolo Gabbiadini also handed starts. Napoli's in-form wingerLorenzo Insigne however was once again left on the bench.
Sweden's Lustig was back from suspension, with Johanssonstarting in place of the injured Albin Ekdal.
The hosts had penalty appeals in the opening few minutesas Marco Parolo appeared to be tripped from behind by LudwigAugustinsson, but the referee waved play on and booked GiorgioChiellini for dissent.
Sweden lost first-leg goalscorer Johansson after 15minutes when his left knee buckled badly and he wasstretchered off to make way for Gustav Svensson.
Jorginho's through ball found Immobile to pull back fromthe byline for Candreva to blast over, but Leonardo Bonucci,wearing a protective mask after breaking his nose on Friday,got a knock to the knee and was limping badly.
Florenzi thought he had scored on 53 minutes with aflying volley from Matteo Darmian's cross, but it went wide.
Bonucci got down to business taking off his protectivemask on the hour mark, with Ventura bringing on Stephan ElShaarawy and Torino striker Belotti.
Federico Bernardeschi was the final Italy substitutionand Olsen turned away a Parolo header.
As the clock ticked the crowd at the San Siro began tosing the national anthem.
An El Shaarawy shot was kept out by Olsen and Parolo'sheader went wide, then Buffon came up for a corner in a finaldesperate gamble as Italy fell short of reaching the World Cupfor the first time in 60 years. (AFP) CMCM.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.