Soccer Powerhouse Italy Copes With The 'Indelible Stain' Of Missing The World Cup - by Colin Dwyer

This is the way World Cup hopes end — not with a bang, but with a whimper.

With their tournament dreams on the line against Sweden on Monday night, the Italian men's national team — the four-time World Cup champion Italian men's national team — simply could not get the win they needed. They didn't even demonstrate the knack for tragedy that might have made for a dramatic defeat, à la the U.S. men.

Instead, Italians watched their opportunity to play in the 2018 World Cup wither slowly as the scoreboard stayed empty, drifting to a scoreless tie with the Swedes in Milan. With the 0-0 draw, Sweden booked their own ticket to Russia to play in one of the world's most watched events.

Not since 1958 has the World Cup lacked an Italian team.

Luckily, though, it appears Italians are taking it in stride: "Italy, this is the apocalypse," declared the Italian sports publication La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Read more: Powerhouse Italy Copes With The 'Indelible Stain' Of Missing The World Cup : The Two-Way : NPR

FIFA: Football - Instant Replay: Dutch FA hopes to trial video technology during matches

The Netherlands may become one of the first countries to trial video help for football referees after a recommendation from the game's rule-making body, the Dutch football federation said Friday.

If the move is approved by the International Football Association Board (IFAB), then the Dutch FA (KNVB) hopes to put it to the test in 25 matches during the Dutch Cup during the 2016-2017 season.

Football moved closer to giving match officials video assistance on Thursday when the IFAB announced it has strongly recommended beginning trials.

The proposal will now go to the IFAB's general meeting in Cardiff on March 4-6 for approval.

"If it is approved in March, then we are going to experiment with it in the Netherlands during the Cup," KNVB told AFP in an email.

"We would hope to try out video assistance in about 25 Cup matches."

Such video help would not replace the traditional ref, but could be consulted for decisions that might change the match outcome such as contentious goals or penalties and red cards.   

Read more: Flash - Dutch FA hopes to trial video technology during matches - France 24

The Netherlands: football: Blind calls Depay into Dutch squad, retains Robben |

Netherlands coach Danny Blind has called Manchester United forward Memphis Depay into his squad for the friendly matches against Wales and Germany, while retaining Bayern Munich's Arjen Robben.

Depay was a surprise omission from the provisional squad on Monday and Blind questioned the former PSV star's ability to work as a team player as his country seeks to rebuild from their failure to reach Euro 2016.

Blind also suggested fitness problems were a factor in Depay's absence, but he went on to feature as a substitute in United's 1-0 Champions League win over CSKA Moscow on Tuesday.

Robben was also in midweek Champions League action, making an instant impact from the bench to score in Bayern's dominant 5-1 victory against Arsenal.

The former Chelsea and Real Madrid attacker recently returned to fitness due to a thigh problem and suggested on Thursday that he would require a green light from his club to turn out on international duty.

"We will have to wait and see whether I will play against Wales and Germany. I will discuss my situation with the club to see what is a sensible decision here," Robben told SBS6.

Like Depay, Ajax midfielder Riechedly Bazoer is named in the 24-man squad despite not being present on the provisional list, although Fenerbahce striker Robin van Persie remains a high-profile absentee.

Vurnon Anita, Karim Rekik, Jeroen Zoet and Anwar El Ghazi failed to make the final cut, although Ajax forward El Ghazi suffered an ankle injury during his club's 0-0 Europa League draw against Fenebahce on Thursday and is set to spend two weeks on the sidelines.

Feyenoord midfielder Marko Vejinovic has had his maiden call-up confirmed for the trip to Cardiff on November 13 and Hannover's HDI-Arena four days later.

  Read more: Blind calls Depay into Dutch squad, retains Robben | FourFourTw