Portugal Colonial - Generation of Italians reeling from World Cup 'apocalypse'

Penalty shoot-out defeat to Bosnia and Hercegovina in Tuesday's play-of final means Italy will spend at least 16 years without playing a World Cup match, and that is assuming qualification for the 2030 edition.

"For the first time in our history, Italian children will come of age without ever having seen Italy take part in a World Cup," said Wednesday's edition of the Gazzetta Dello Sport.

The pink sports daily dedicated eight pages to "Italian football's ongoing nightmare", with the national team the first World Cup winner to miss a third consecutive finals.

It was a sentiment replicated among fans deeply disappointed by what the Gazzetta called a "third apocalypse".

Teacher Emanuele Perrone, 38, said: "It's really disappointing. But at the end of the day, if any team deserved to qualify, it certainly wasn't us."

In an editorial, the Gazzetta insisted Italian football needs "total change" and criticised both coach Gennaro Gattuso and Alessandro Bastoni, whose sending off in the first half -- with Italy leading 1-0 -- changed the complexion of the match.

But the newspaper reserved special attention for Gabriele Gravina, the man at the head of the football federation for two of Italy's three straight qualification failures.

"We need to realise that we are no longer in the elite of world football. This isn't just one episode, nor is it an accident," said the Gazzetta.

"If Gravina manages to keep his place in charge even in the face of the disappointment of millions of Italian fans, he will become a record-breaker for World Cup failure and clinging on (to his position).

"The system needs rebuilding, we cannot wait any longer. We are in an emergency and in these situations there is only one solution: extraordinary measures."

E.Borba--PC