Unsurprisingly, the football world wasn't exactly full of sympathy for Italy after their 1-0 aggregate loss to Sweden, as they came to terms with a 2018 World Cup that will now not feature Italy, USA, Chile or the Netherlands, among other big names.
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With perpetual success comes detractors, and seeing as the Azzurri had only failed to qualify for the World Cup once since they won it back in 1934 (the first of four Cups, no less), it was more a mixture of shock, and smugness - the 0-0 result on the night also saw manager Gian Piero Ventura reportedly resign post-match, having been roundly criticised during the game by commentators and online for not injecting Lorenzo Insigne, arguably Italy's best attacking threat, at any point in the match.
No Italy at the World Cup don't sound right but credit to Sweden defended excellent how can you have a player like insigne on the bench and not use him strange??? Clinton Morrison (@morrisonclinton)
Pray for Italy #ItalySweden #ITASWE??? Michael Ballack (@Ballack) November 13, 2017
Italy will be sadly missed at the WC but a big well done to Sweden. Any trolling of Italy badly misplaced, you always see each other twice??? Didi Hamann (@DietmarHamann) November 13, 2017
Sweden didn't just park a bus they parked 3 ! #ItalySweden #Russia2018 pic.twitter.com/80Fgy9WhC5??? Robbie Slater (@RobbieSlater17) November 13, 2017
What was undoubtedly the highlight of the post-game celebrations came as the elated Swedes rushed a pitchside TV set, sending the pieces of the desk into a collapsed heap.
They didn't just break the hearts of Italy... Swedish players celebrate reaching the 2018 World Cup by ambushing/destroying a pitch-side TV position at the San Siro pic.twitter.com/jJOJa7la8n??? Joe Prince-Wright (@JPW_NBCSports) November 13, 2017
Italy's long-time goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon retired from international football after his attempt to be the first player ever to go to six World Cups fell short. Buffon, 39, is regarded by many as the greatest goalkeeper of all time, playing for the national team 175 times and claiming the World Cup in 2006.
Iker Casillas, the long-time Spanish goalkeeper and the other contender for the crown of 'Best keeper of the 2000s', was one of the first to congratulate Buffon on a great international career.
No me gusta nada verte as??! Quiero verte como hasta ahora, como lo que sigues siendo para muchos: una LEYENDA. Orgulloso de conocerte y orgulloso de haberme enfrentado a ti muchas veces. A??n nos tienes que deleitar en el f??tbol amigo! #1 pic.twitter.com/gs9o0irCqo??? Iker Casillas (@IkerCasillas) November 13, 2017
Buffon choking up again. Says he doesn't want to cry in front of the kids watching at home on TV who dream of playing for Italy. Apologises. Hero??? James Horncastle (@JamesHorncastle) November 13, 2017
Legend @gianluigibuffon??? Robert Lewandowski (@lewy_official) November 13, 2017
El Mundial te echar?? de menos, @gianluigibuffon. ????nimo, amigo! Eres muy grande. pic.twitter.com/pN2OaRY6TU??? Sergio Ramos (@SergioRamos) November 13, 2017
With Sweden's qualification, all but three of the spots at the 2018 tournament in Russia are confirmed, with Australian fans hoping that the Socceroos will be one of that trio, when they take on Honduras in Sydney on Wednesday night.
