SportsRussia 2018: Italy Sack Ventura After World Cup Miss

Russia 2018: Italy Sack Ventura After World Cup Miss

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BEVERLY HILLS, November 16, (THEWILL) – The Italian Football Federation has fired coach Giampiero Ventura after the four-time champions failed to reach the World Cup for first time after 60 years.

The Azzurri lost a play-off with Sweden 1-0 on aggregate to spell the end of 69-year-old Ventura’s 17-month tenure on Wednesday.

Ventura replaced Antonio Conte in June 2016, and was described as a “master of football” by Italian Football Federation President, Carlo Tavecchio.

When he was appointed he was given a two-year deal which would have taken him to the end of the 2018 World Cup finals in Russia.

At the time, Tavecchio called Ventura an “innovative” coach with “limitless experience” who had helped many players reach the national side.

However, Italy took one point out of a possible six against Spain during the World Cup qualifiers and also drew at home to Macedonia.

“I can only apologise to the Italians, not for the will or effort but for the result, which as I know is the main thing,” said former Napoli and Sampdoria boss Ventura after Italy’s World Cup hopes were ended.

Ventura said his record was one of the best of the last 40 years as he told Italian television show Le Iene before he was fired that “I lost only two games in two years.”

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