Photo: Miguel Medina/AFP/Getty Images

It has now been confirmed that 2006 World Cup champions Italy won’t be part of the World Cup party in Russia next year after a goalless draw with Sweden last night.

Davide Zappacosta’s Italy were eliminated from World Cup qualifying last night after drawing 0-0 with Sweden, losing 1-0 on aggregate.

Italy has earlier lost away to Sweden, and needed to win Sweden at home to qualify for the World Cup but could only get a goalless draw.

Zappacosta didn’t feature in the game as he was an unused sub for the Italians. To Italy’s credit, they were the better team on the night and missed a couple of chances early on that could have given them the three points.

The Italians, who have won the World Cup on four separate occasions, have failed to qualify for the finals for the first time since 1958.