Italy 0-0 (0-1 on agg.) Sweden
Sweden pulled off one of the biggest shocks in world football, withstanding a 95-minute tidal wave of Italian attacks to qualify for Russia 2018.
And it’s the first time Italy have missed a World Cup since 1958, meaning some pundits will need to revisit their betting tips for the likely winners! In one of the biggest football games in Italy’s history, betting odds were firmly in the Azzurri’s favour, even with a first-leg deficit.
Let’s not underestimate the size of Sweden’s achievement, post-Zlatan Ibrahimovic few outside Stockholm gave them a prayer. And it only seemed like a matter of time before their defence was breached as Italy set about their task with infinitely more invention and vigour than in the first leg.
In an intimidating San Siro Stadium, the Italian fans made a wall of noise and booed every Sweden touch as Italy moved the ball well, with Jorginho controlling the midfield while Ciro Immobile and Antonio Candreva stretched the packed Swedish defence.
Candreva blazed the first real chance over the bar; and as the tension increased, Immobile latched on to another great ball from Jorginho, but keeper Olsen did just enough to deny the Lazio frontman.
And, on the stroke of halftime, Olsen made another great save to deny Alessandro Florenzi.
Minutes into the second half, Matteo Darmian could have won a penalty when Mikael Lustig clattered him, but the Manchester United man was judged to have handled the ball; lucky for Sweden. And then Florenzi was a whisker away from breaking the deadlock with a beautiful volley. He had another chance after good work from Giorgio Chiellini but this time showed less composure and fired over.
Substitute Stephan El Shaarawy added more pace as the minutes ticked away and brought another late save from Olsen. But when Jorginho fired wide deep into stoppage time, the writing was on the wall.
Congratulations to Sweden, to a man heroic in defence, but this is a dark night for Italian football.
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