'I Really Want To Cry' - FIFA President Admits Italy Failing To Qualify For Qatar World Cup Has Left Him Devastated
FIFA President Gianni Infantino admits Italy's failure to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar has left him on the verge of tears.
The European champions have missed out on World Cup qualification for the second consecutive year, having also come up short in their bid to reach the 2018 showpiece.
Roberto Mancini's side suffered a shock defeat in their qualifying playoff semi-final against North Macedonia last week, ending their hopes of building on their success at Euro 2020.
And after watching Italy crash out of football's biggest competition, Infantino says he was left devastated.
'I really want to cry,' the 52-year-old told Rai Sport.
'For all the Italians it is sad, it is the second World Cup in a row in which the Azzurri do not participate.
'And if they qualify for the next World Cup it will be 12 years of absence '
Infantino recalled falling in love with football when watching the Azzurri as a kid, while also hinting that they may not have to wait another four years to compete in the World Cup.
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