Italy have played in the last 14 World Cup finals, winning two of them. "This is disgusting, the World Cup can't exist without Italy. "Not taking part in the Russia World Cup is an enormous slap in the face. Newspapers estimated missing the Cup would cost Italy's soccer authorities and media companies some 100 million euros ($117.5 million) in lost revenues. Italy last won the World Cup in 2006, but exited at the group stage in 2010 and 2014.

Source: Economic Times November 14, 2017 15:11 UTC