Croatia Benefits From Italy’s World Cup Failure

by croatiaweek
November 13, 2017
in Sport

(HNS)

Four-time World Cup winners Italy have failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia after losing 1-0 to Sweden on aggregate.

Sweden went into tonight’s match with a 1-0 advantage from the first leg and despite the home side enjoying 76% possession at the San Siro stadium tonight, Italy failed to find the breakthrough they needed with the match finishing 0-0.

It is the first time since 1958 that Italy will not be at the World Cup after qualifying 14 times in a row.

#WCQ | FT
🇮🇹Italy 0-0 Sweden🇸🇪 (0-1 agg)
Sweden give their all to hold off an Italian onslaught and triumph on aggregate, booking their ticket to Russia.https://t.co/SpQDWJq93q pic.twitter.com/hGK3b8C4jd

— #WCQ (@FIFAWorldCup) November 13, 2017

Sweden also has done Croatia a favour by knocking out Italy as Croatia now moves from Pot 3 to the stronger Pot 2 for next month’s draw.

There will be four seeding pots for the draw, each containing eight teams. The seeding for the 2018 World Cup draw is based on the FIFA ranking for October 2017 in which Croatia is ranked 18th.

Italy’s exit means Croatia takes their spot in Pot 2 and will now avoid the likes of Spain and England come draw time.