Pros and cons of Italy missing the 2018 FIFA World Cup 

#2 Pro: Only way is upwards

Chiellini and Buffon have announced their retirement from the international team

It would be safe to claim that this is the lowest point in the history of Italian football along with the quagmire of 1958. This was supposed to be the last World Cup for Gigi Buffon – a farewell of sorts – but he was denied the opportunity mainly due to the limitations of Gian Piero Ventura.

Similarly, the likes of Giorgio Chiellini and Daniele De Rossi also deserved a proper last hurrah with the Azzurri but they were just in the same boat as their captain. With the morale of the team at an all-time low and the fans lost in the realms of despair, the only way from here is upwards.

The Italy national team are at the bottom and can’t go any further south even if they tried. However, what is gone is gone and what lies ahead is what matters. The next international tournament after the World Cup for them is the Euro 2020 – and the rage of failing to qualify for the World Cup might as well spark them into doing something wonderful and do well in the Euros.