Keeper Buffon insists Italy should not set alarm bells ringing after 0-1 defeat to Sweden which leaves Azzurri on brink of missing out on World Cup berth

Italy must not panic as they bid to avoid missing a World Cup for the first time in 60 years, goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon said after a 1-0 playoff defeat to Sweden pushed them to the brink of disaster. Captain Buffon —bidding to reach a record sixth World Cup finals in Russia — is one of the last survivors of Italy's golden generation of 2006 World Cup winners. But an Azzurri performance in Stockholm branded "ugly and confused" leaves Italy with all to play for in Monday's second leg in Milan to avoid failing to qualify for the World Cup finals for the first time since 1958.