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Agence France-Presse

Gian Piero Ventura was sacked as Italy coach on Wednesday after the four-time champions failed to reach the World Cup finals.
The veteran coach’s fate was sealed after a crisis meeting of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) in Rome.
The 69-year-old had refused to resign despite a 1-0 aggregate play-off defeat to Sweden on Monday which saw Italy miss the World Cup for the first time in 60 years.
“As of today Gian Piero Ventura is no longer the coach of the national team,” the FIGC said in a statement.

Ventura had defended his leadership as “one of the best records in 40 years” despite failing to lead the 1934, 1938, 1982 and 2006 winners to their 19th World Cup.
“I lost only two games in two years,” he had told Italian television show Le Iene in a brief interview.


Since the former Torino coach took over in July 2016, Italy have lost three matches – against France in Bari (3-1), Spain in Madrid (3-0) and against Sweden in the World Cup first-leg play-off in Solna (1-0) – winning nine and drawing four.
‘I still can’t believe it has happened. It’s over’ – dismay and disbelief as Italy miss out on World Cup qualification
Former Chelsea and Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has been touted by the Italian press as the favourite to replace Ventura, as the 58-year-old Italian is free since being fired by Bayern Munich at the end of September.


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2018 Fifa World Cup European qualifying

A disappointed Italy coach Gian Piero Ventura walks off the pitch after his team was knocked out of the 2018 World Cup. Ventura was dismissed on Wednesday as coach of the team. Photo: Reuters

epaselect epa06327491 Italy's goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon (L) and head coach Gian Piero Ventura (R) show their dejection after the FIFA World Cup 2018 qualification playoff, second leg soccer match between Italy and Sweden at the Giuseppe Meazza stadium in Milan, Italy, 13 November 2017. Sweden won 1-0 on aggregate. EPA-EFE/DANIEL DAL ZENNARO

Sport

Football

The veteran coach’s fate is sealed after a crisis meeting of the Italian Football Federation in Rome


Fifa World Cup 2018

Fifa

Sweden