Argentina coach Scaloni on Italy’s World Cup flop: ‘Hard truth’
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni is ‘saddened’ by Italy’s World Cup play-off elimination: ‘It is sad because of how it happened, in an unfair way; it is a hard truth to accept.’
Italy have failed to qualify for the World Cup for the third time in a row, losing the play-off Final on penalties to Bosnia and Herzegovina on Tuesday.
Following a 5-0 friendly win over Zambia, Argentina national team coach Scaloni, a former Lazio defender, spared a thought for the Azzurri.
“I have Italian relatives, and what is happening in Italy saddens me,” he said at a post-match press conference.
“It is a brother country to Argentina that cares deeply for us. It is a world power, so the fact that it is not present does not sit well with us Argentines. It is sad because of how it happened, in an unfair way; it is a hard truth to accept.”
Argentina are the defending World Cup champions and have been placed in Group J at the World Cup along with Algeria, Austria and Jordan.
Bosnia and Herzegovina reached the World Cup play-offs instead of Italy and will feature in Group B with Qatar, Canada and Switzerland.
Meanwhile, in Italy, FIGC President Gabriele Gravina is under severe pressure, as the Minister for Sport has called for major changes in the Italian FA leadership, effectively suggesting that Gravina should resign.