Germany coach Joachim Low described the prospect of a World Cup without four-time champions Italy as a "disaster" as Gian Piero Ventura's men go into their play-off second leg trailing Sweden 1-0.
Italy host Sweden in the second leg on Monday at San Siro, looking to overturn the narrow defeat in Solna in attempt to reach a 15th consecutive finals.
Coach Ventura is under immense pressure and will almost certainly lose his job should Italy fail, while some are even expecting him to be sacked regardless of Monday's result, with Carlo Ancelotti waiting in the wings.