Buffon Retires From International Football As Italy Fail To Qualify For World Cup 2018

Gianluigi Buffon fought back tears as he confirmed his retirement from international football.

This was following Italy's shock failure to qualify for Russia 2018.

The Azzurri missed out on a place at the World Cup for the first time since 1958 as a 0-0 draw at San Siro on Monday confirmed a 1-0 aggregate defeat to Sweden.

The Juventus shot stopper made a total of 175 appearances for Italy.

Gian Piero Ventura appears all .

"It's disappointing," Buffon told Rai Sport.

"Not for me, but for the football movement, because we failed at something that could've been truly important for the country. That is the only regret I have and certainly not that I am finishing my career, because time passes and it's only right.

"It's just a shame my last official game coincided with the failure to qualify for the World Cup.

"[But] there is certainly a future for Italian football, as we have pride, ability, determination and after bad tumbles, we always find a way to get back on our feet.

"I'm leaving an Italy side that will know how to speak for itself."

Despite the embarrassment of a botched campaign, Buffon refused to lay the blame on Ventura.

"In football you win as a group, you lose as a group, you divide the credit and the blame," he said.

"The coach is part of this entire group."