A tearful
Gianluigi Buffon said he was "sorry for all of Italian football" as
he led a wave of international retirements after a World Cup play-off defeat by
Sweden. Italy
were held to a 0-0 draw in Milan and failed to qualify for
the World Cup for the first time since 1958.
Buffon,
39, said: "It's a shame my last official game coincided with the failure
to qualify for the World Cup. "Blame
is shared equally between everyone. There can't be scapegoats."
Buffon's
Juventus team-mate Andrea Barzagli and
Roma midfielder Daniele de Rossi also ended
their Italy careers, while Giorgio Chiellini is expected to join them. The
quartet have won 461 caps between them.
Goalkeeper
Buffon made 175 appearances for his country in a 20-year career - lifting the
World Cup in 2006 - and believes the future could still be bright for the
four-time world champions.
"There
is certainly a future for Italian football because we have pride, ability,
determination and after bad tumbles, we always find a way to get back on our
feet," he said.
Italy
manager Giampiero Ventura - under contract until 2020 - did not speak to
national television after the defeat but arrived at a news conference 90 minutes
after full time.
'I haven't resigned - yet'
"I
have not resigned because I haven't spoken to the president yet," Ventura,
69, said. "I'm
sorry for being late, but every player I had the privilege of working with, I
wanted to salute individually.
"Resignation?
I have to evaluate an infinity of issues. We will meet with the federation and
discuss it." Buffon's
retirement was not the only one on a night of change for Italy.
"I
don't know what we missed, all I know is we're out of the World Cup, it's a
unique disappointment and leaving this group of lads is painful," said
defender Barzagli. "The
era of four or five veterans comes to a close, the one of the hungry young
players coming through begins and that's how it should be."
'Send the strikers on!'
There was
a bizarre moment late on when De Rossi was asked to warm up but pointed instead
at Napoli forward Lorenzo Insigne, a player Ventura refused to call upon
despite pressure from Italian media and supporters. Lorenzo Insigne has scored three goals and made
four assists for Napoli in Serie A this season
"I
just said we were near the end and had to win, so send the strikers to warm
up!" said De Rossi. "I pointed to Insigne too.
"I
just thought perhaps it was better that Insigne come on instead." In the
end Roma midfielder De Rossi, 34, was not used either as Italy failed in their
search for the goal that would have taken the tie to extra time.
'Apocalypse' - reaction in Italy
Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport's headline Italy's
leading sports newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport said the result
brought the arrival of the "apocalypse". The
article said: "We will not be with you and you will not be with us. A love
so great must be reserved for other things. Italy will not participate at the
World Cup.
"It
is time to start thinking about what else we can do in June: concerts, cinema,
village festivals. Anything but watching Sweden play at the World Cup - that
would be too painful." Iker
Casillas, who lifted the World Cup with Spain in 2010 and won 167 international
caps, said: "I don't like seeing you like this. I want to see you as you've
always been, as what you are for so many - as a legend. I'm proud to have met
you and to have faced you many times."
Who next for Italy?
Gazzetta have outlined four
candidates who could replace Ventura to "rebuild from rubble and work for
the 2020 Euros".
Former AC
Milan, Juventus and Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti is the "most
liked" name to take over, having been sacked as Bayern Munich boss earlier
this season. He also leads the poll on the Gazzetta website.
Chelsea
boss Antonio Conte, who left the Italy job after Euro 2016, has also been
mentioned as he is "a bit tired of England", while ex-Manchester City
manager Roberto Mancini, now at Zenit St Petersburg, and Juventus manager
Massimiliano Allegri have also been touted.
Analysis - a blessing in disguise?
Italian
football journalist Mina Rzouki told BBC World Service Sport: It is a
national tragedy. It feels surreal that in a World Cup where so many nations
take part, Italy will not be there. It is a
lot of mediocre players put together in the squad, the ones who do have talent
have not been given the opportunity to show off their talents by Ventura. The
oldest coach to take charge of Italy, it was amazing he did not have the room
or tactics to bring in Lorenzo Insigne, considering how effective he has been
for Serie A's best side Napoli.
The very
good players for Italy are the experienced veterans who did so well and Ventura
was largely put in charge to bring through the young talents to mix with old
players and take Italy forward. He did not manage that.
This is
not a great thing to happen to Italian football, but maybe it was needed and
can look at it as a blessing in disguise. It may give an opportunity to rebuild
and that means from the top, getting rid of the men who have been in power for
so long.
Ventura
is perhaps not the right age for someone to adapt to the national team. He is
only a man who won the Serie C title with Lecce so this is not someone with
great experience of winning trophies.
This is
the chance to start afresh, bring in the right people at the top, on the pitch
and those giving the strategies. It will no longer mask the deficiencies in Italian
football.
Source: BBC