Coach Ventura promises to resign after Italy defeat

Giampiero Ventura has promised to resign from his role as Italy manager after their failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup.

Asked by a reporter from Italian television programme "Le Iene" if he will resign his post after the Azzurri lost 1-0 on aggregate to Sweden, Ventura replied: "Yes".

Reports from Sky Italia claim that Ventura will, in fact, have his contract mutually terminated by the Italian Football Federation.

That would leave Ventura in line for a pay-off, worth around €700,000.

Italy have been ever-present at the World Cup for the past 60 years, but will now miss their first finals tournament since 1958 after a historic evening at San Siro, which finished 0-0.

Jakob Johanssen's deflected goal from the first leg was enough for Sweden to qualify for the tournament in Russia, leaving the retiring Gianluigi Buffon in tears after his final appearance for his country.

Italy's failure to qualify for the showpiece in Russia could potentially hit the nation's economy, to the tune of €1 billion, while defender Giorgio Chiellini believes the nation has hit "rock bottom".

"I just said we were near the end and had to win, so send the strikers to warm up. I pointed to Insigne too. It wasn't up to me whether it was a tactical issue. I'm sorry if I offended anyone. At the time I just thought perhaps it was better that Insigne come on instead," he said.