Diego Maradona laments Italy's elimination from World Cup

On Tuesday, the legend Diego Maradona lamented Italy's elimination from the World Cup, "one of the greatest, a historic nation", in the playoff for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Italy drew 0-0 against Sweden, who will be in the competition.

"I am very sorry that Italy could not qualify for the World Cup. Italians have always brought color to the World Cups," declared the Argentine on Facebook.

"I watched the match and I believe that Italy played the way Sweden wanted, with crosses. And Sweden has huge central defenders. The competition is getting tougher," he added.

"It is sad that Italy, one of the greatest and a historic nation, will stay at the doors of the World Cup in Russia," concluded Maradona, who played seven seasons at Napoli.