Italy failed to qualify for the World Cup for the first time in six decades after a scoreless tie on Monday in Milan meant it lost its playoff to Sweden, 1-0, on aggregate.
It could have been worse for Italy at the quiet San Siro, as Sweden was denied what looked like two clear-cut penalties for handballs, first from Matteo Darmian and then from Andrea Barzagli.
Italy, a four-time World Cup champion, had a penalty appeal of its own waved off by the referee, Antonio Mateu Lahoz, when Marco Parolo was tripped from behind by Ludwig Augsustinsson.