Sweden 1:0 vs Italy, 2nd leg will be brutal. Italy would miss the tournament for first time since 1958.
Didn't plan to watch any of the international games (skipped England vs Germany yesterday), but I guess now I have to. Not sure what to think about this: On the one hand Italy's absence would raise our chances by far, on the other the best teams and biggest names should play at the World Cup. Strong rivalry with Italy... just like with France, England, Netherlands, Argentina (damn, we have solely rivals).
Northern Ireland not going to Russia due to a farce penalty given to Switzerland. Sucks not only because the Irish fans were awesome last year in France and will be missed, also because Switzerland is pretty much the most boring team out there.
Serie A has seriously lost some ground to the Top 3 leagues..... no uptempo in the Offense. No efficiency. Holy moly.
Game over. Holy cow! Now the U.S. fans don't have to feel too bad, since a four time World Champ didn't make it either. Poor Buffon, he deserves better.
Man that's just on the pitch. You aren't even talking about off the pitch which they are still trying to gain ground...gradually. Footy only stadiums with closer stands, better amenities at and around the stadiums, matchday finances, TV rights, so much stuff that Italy has been in the dark ages on and are only finally starting to make moves toward...at a snails pace. I'm going to ahead and guess that Ventura will hand in his resignation before morning. (Way quicker than Arena with the USA).
The most populous countries do not make it. The biggest countries apart from Russia who is host do not make it.
This could lead to the same process German football went through after the disastrous 2000 Euro. Italian media outlets and experts will go nuts now and heads will roll.
Don't leave out a multiple time finalist like Holland. That's why I feel the USA should feel better. I still think the future for the USA team looks brighter than that of the Dutch. I don't know about the Italians. Somewhere in the middle. Just not a good choice of manager.
