A 0-0 draw with Sweden at the San Siro meant that Italy failed to qualify for the World Cup, having lost the first leg 1-0 in Stockholm.
Next summer’s tournament in Russia will be the first since 1958 without the Italians, four-time winners and six-time finalists.
But travelling Swedish fans offered them hope of a musical fashion with a stirring rendition of Monty Python’s ‘Always Look on the Bright Side of Life’ from the Life of Brian, which you can watch in the video below.
Italy head coach Gian Piero Ventura will doubtless need cheering up ahead of what is certain to be a brutal few days for the former Torino and Bari manager.
Meanwhile Sweden’s own celebrations certainly left their mark on the San Siro, with the whole squad sprinting over to the Swedish Eurosport broadcasting desk as they were live on television.
It was a night that will live long in the memory of Swedish head coach Janne Andersson, who said: “We have many heroes tonight.
“I am a bit moved but obviously very happy with the result.”
