The Italian press on yesterday termed the national team's failure to reach the World Cup for the first time in 60 years as a sporting catastrophe. "Italy, this is the apocalypse," ran a headline on the website of sports daily, Gazzetta dello Sport shortly after Monday night's 0-0 draw with Sweden in the second leg of the play-off for a place at Russia 2018.

Italy's goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon reacts during the FIFA World Cup 2018 qualification football match between Italy and Sweden, on November 13, 2017 at the San Siro stadium in Milan. Pic/AFP