The last -- and only -- time Italy failed to qualify for the World Cup was back in 1958. Italy went into their final match against Northern Ireland needing a draw. They lost, 2-1. And, note, UEFA had nine slots back then; today, they have 12.
That ought to put some context to the precipice on which Gian Piero Ventura's crew are standing. And, soon, we'll know if they've nose-dived off it. If they do, Ventura will be the uber-scapegoat, and rightly so. Everything about the 1-0 defeat in the away leg playoff last Friday night in Sweden was wrong: attitude, style of play, formation and personnel.