Reaction to Italy's failure to qualify for World Cup

By AP
Published

MILAN (AP) Reaction to Italy's failure to qualify for the World Cup after losing the playoff to Sweden 1-0 on aggregate on Monday:

''I feel I have to apologize to Italians for the result.'' - Italy coach Gian Piero Ventura.

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''It is upsetting that my last match decided we didn't qualify for the World Cup.'' - Retiring Italy captain Gianluigi Buffon.

''I'm sorry. Not for me, though, but for (Italy).'' - Buffon

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''At end we deserved it, because I'm not someone who believes in luck.'' - Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini.

''We gave everything we had. They deserved it more.'' - Chiellini.

''We all need to look within and find a way to bounce back. We need to get back to the level we deserve to be at.'' - Chiellini.

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''It's a black moment for our game.'' - Italy midfielder Daniele De Rossi.

''There's little to say. Unfortunately there will be a lot of time to analyze it. The only thing I can say is that we showed few ideas and not much in the way of tactics.'' - De Rossi.

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''Not going to the World Cup is tragic.'' - Italy playmaker Federico Bernardeschi.

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''Nobody wanted this.'' - Italy forward Manolo Gabbiadini.

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''It was a demonstration of how strong we are as a group.'' - Sweden coach Janne Andersson.

''We have many heroes tonight. Obviously I'm somewhat taken over by emotions and obviously very happy.'' - Andersson.

''I am very happy but above all happy for these players. For many of them it was probably the last chance to get to the World Cup.'' - Andersson.

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