"We're Italy and if we qualify it will be by playing football," coach Gian Piero Ventura insisted on Sunday on the eve of a crunch World Cup play-off against Sweden in Milan.... more »
Italy's old guard face a final stand in Monday's World Cup play-off against Sweden in the San Siro after Gian Piero Ventura's side lost the away leg 1-0.... more »
Australia will have a recovery advantage over Honduras in this week's return World Cup qualifier after taking a chartered flight home, Socceroos defender Trent Sainsbury said on Sunday.... more »
New Zealand declared themselves "definitely confident" on Sunday of upsetting Peru in their World Cup qualifying showdown, heartened by a 0-0 draw in the first leg.... more »
Italy must not panic as they bid to avoid missing a World Cup for the first time in 60 years, goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon said after a 1-0 playoff defeat to Sweden pushed them to the brink of disaster.... more »
Peru failed to break down a resolute New Zealand defence in a 0-0 draw in Wellington Saturday, leaving their dream of ending a 36-year absence from the World Cup finals hanging by a thread.... more »
Australia coach Ange Postecoglou praised the way his side dealt with hostile conditions on Friday after the Socceroos held Honduras to a 0-0 draw in their World Cup playoff clash.... more »
Australia edged closer to a place in the 2018 World Cup finals on Friday after grinding out a hard-fought 0-0 draw with Honduras in their Asia-CONCACAF playoff.... more »
Italy coach Gian Piero Ventura insisted Saturday that the four-time champions will still make the 2018 World Cup finals despite a 1-0 loss to Sweden in the first leg of their play-off.... more »
Sweden claimed a precious 1-0 first-leg victory over Italy in their World Cup play-off at Stockholm on Friday, leaving the four-time champions in danger of missing the tournament for the first time in 60 years.... more »
New Zealand believe they can spring a massive upset and down Peru to reach the 2018 World Cup finals, even if no one else shares their faith, coach Anthony Hudson said Friday.... more »
Tim Cahill is poised to give Australia a massive World Cup boost after being declared available for the Socceroos crucial 2018 World Cup playoff with Honduras here Friday.... more »
Croatia cruised to a 4-1 victory over Greece in their World Cup play-off first leg on Thursday to move to the brink of a spot at next year's finals in Russia.... more »
Switzerland took a giant step towards qualifying for Russia 2018 on Thursday but needed a controversial penalty to earn a 1-0 win against stubborn Northern Ireland in the first leg of their World Cup play-off.... more »
Australia star Aaron Mooy says the Socceroos will go all out for victory on Friday as they aim to edge closer to the World Cup in the opening leg of their playoff clash with Honduras.... more »
Northern Ireland boss Michael O'Neill said Wednesday his side are ready to seize their moment as they prepare to take on Switzerland in a play-off for Russia 2018, seeking to qualify for their first World Cup since 1986.... more »
Daniele De Rossi expressed relief on Tuesday that Sweden no longer have Zlatan Ibrahimovic among their ammunition as Italy prepares for the first leg of their World Cup qualifying play-off.... more »
The last burst of qualifying matches for the 2018 World Cup allows some nations a chance to dream, but for football aristocrats Italy, the next few days are a potential nightmare.... more »
Australia are to face Honduras for a World Cup playoff in a Central American stadium on Friday located on the edge of a cane field notorious for being where gangs dumped corpses and dismembered victims with chainsaws.... more »
Greece coach Michael Skibbe blasted FIFA's decision to ban Roma defender Kostas Manolas from Thursday's World Cup play-off first leg away to Croatia for "intentionally seeking a yellow card".... more »
