https://www.thelocal.it/20171114/the-saddest-reactions-to-italy-world-cu...
While I do enjoy watching a footie match, I'm not a great sport fan; more interested in the "beautiful game" and the passions it inspires.
Italy shut out of World Cup - mannaggia!
Wed, 2017-11-15 19:18
#1
Italy shut out of World Cup - mannaggia!
Wed, 2017-11-15 19:41
#2
Looks like it could be quiet in my neck of the woods (Little Italy, Toronto) next June.
At least Portugal has the option of supporting Brazil if Portugal gets knocked out.
Wed, 2017-11-15 20:53
#3
laine lowe
Knocked out by Sweden, that's got to hurt. Netherlands also knocked out.
Time for some new stars to rise.
Wed, 2017-11-15 21:35
#4
Really Sweden? They’ve had strong teams before. I did a search and they were runners up for World Cup in 50’s and lots of appearances. I remember the last World Cup in Brazil was hands down the most social politically controversial I have ever seen/heard! Rumour had it that Brazilian players threw the game in protest of social spending or lack of. Wonder if this was something similar?
Thu, 2017-11-16 00:50
#5
Peru's in for the first time in 36 years
Thu, 2017-11-16 01:55
#6
I think Italy would have made it to the World Cup had they not been placed in the same UEFA qualifying group with Spain in the World Cup qualifying round. Losing to Sweden by a goal over a two game playoff after coming in second after Spain is not surprising considering Sweden is a very good team that can beat any country in the world on a given day, especially when playing in Sweden. I think teams like Germany and Brazil would also have been in trouble if they had had to beat out both Spain and Sweden in order to qualify for the World Cup. Italy was in trouble the second they were put in the same group as Spain.
Sweden also had a very difficult road to the World Cup as they were in the same qualifying group as France and the Netherlands. The Netherlands came in third in that "group of death" and were relegated.
Thu, 2017-11-16 11:55
#7
I think Italy would have made it to the World Cup had they not been placed in the same UEFA qualifying group with Spain in the World Cup qualifying round. Losing to Sweden by a goal over a two game playoff after coming in second after Spain is not surprising considering Sweden is a very good team that can beat any country in the world on a given day, especially when playing in Sweden. I think teams like Germany and Brazil would also have been in trouble if they had had to beat out both Spain and Sweden in order to qualify for the World Cup. Italy was in trouble the second they were put in the same group as Spain.
Sweden also had a very difficult road to the World Cup as they were in the same qualifying group as France and the Netherlands. The Netherlands came in third in that "group of death" and were relegated.
The problem was in the seeding: Wales and Romania were in the top group, France and Italy were in the second:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_FIFA_World_Cup_qualification_(UEFA)#Seeding
Fri, 2017-11-17 03:23
#8
I think Italy would have made it to the World Cup had they not been placed in the same UEFA qualifying group with Spain in the World Cup qualifying round. Losing to Sweden by a goal over a two game playoff after coming in second after Spain is not surprising considering Sweden is a very good team that can beat any country in the world on a given day, especially when playing in Sweden. I think teams like Germany and Brazil would also have been in trouble if they had had to beat out both Spain and Sweden in order to qualify for the World Cup. Italy was in trouble the second they were put in the same group as Spain.
Sweden also had a very difficult road to the World Cup as they were in the same qualifying group as France and the Netherlands. The Netherlands came in third in that "group of death" and were relegated.
The problem was in the seeding: Wales and Romania were in the top group, France and Italy were in the second:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_FIFA_World_Cup_qualification_(UEFA)#Seeding
Because of the inept seeding the 2018 World Cup will be less entertaining not having the Netherlands and Italy playing in Russia.