'Sorry' Buffon Ends Career In Tears
A tearful Gianluigi Buffon said he was "sorry for all of Italian football" as he led a wave of international retirements after a World Cup play-off defeat by Sweden.
Italy were held to a 0-0 draw in Milan and failed to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1958.
Buffon, 39, said: "It's a shame my last official game coincided with the failure to qualify for the World Cup.
"Blame is shared equally between everyone. There can't be scapegoats."
Buffon's Juventus team-mate Andrea Barzagli
and Roma midfielder Daniele de Rossi also ended their Italy careers, while Juve defender Giorgio Chiellini is expected to join them. The quartet have won 461 caps between them.
Goalkeeper Buffon made 175 appearances for his country in a 20-year career - lifting the World Cup in 2006 - and believes the future could still be bright for the four-time world champions.
"There is certainly a future for Italian football because we have pride, ability, determination and after bad tumbles, we always find a way to get back on our feet," he said.
Australia Qualify For World Cup
Australia qualified for their fourth successive World Cup by beating a physical Honduras 3-1 at Stadium Australia in Sydney.
After a goalless first leg, Aston Villa player Mile Jedinak's 53rd-minute free-kick took a decisive deflection off Henry Figueroa to break the deadlock.
Jedinak then drilled in penalties after a handball by Bryan Acosta and foul by Johnny Palacios to seal victory.
Maynor Figueroa bundled in late on, but it was too late for the visitors.
The match was played in front of 76,080 fans at Stadium Australia, but the atmosphere was tense as the Socceroos initially struggled to break down their deep-lying opponents and Tommy Rogic screwed a shot wide from their best opening.
With the away goals rule in effect, Australia were still vulnerable after their opener, but two clear penalties gave them breathing space long before the final whistle.
France To Host 2023 Rugby World Cup
France will host the 2023 Rugby World Cup after beating off competition from Ireland and South Africa.
The World Rugby council failed to find a majority in the first round of voting at a secret ballot in London, in which Ireland were eliminated after receiving the fewest number of votes (8 out of 39)
But France received a majority backing (24 of 39 votes) in the second round compared to South Africa's 15.
South Africa had been recommended as the preferred choice of the sport's governing body in a 139-page report published two weeks ago, but World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont denied being "humiliated" by the final decision.
Beaumont said: "We've been fortunate to have three great bids. There's going to be two countries extremely disappointed.
"Certainly delighted for France. It will be a really exciting tournament."
France and Ireland had contested the independent evaluation committee's preference for South Africa and both remained confident of winning the race on Wednesday.
But it was France who proved most persuasive as the voting delegates opted against following the advice to choose South Africa, which hosted the tournament in 1995.
Russia Remains Non-Compliant - Wada
Russia's hopes of competing at the Winter Olympics in February have suffered a setback, with the World Anti-Doping Agency saying the country remains non-compliant with its code.
Last year, an independent report commissioned by Wada found evidence of state-sponsored doping in the country.
Wada said last week the "best solution" is for Russia to "work with tbbhem" after receiving new intelligence.
Russia's sports minister said they have "fulfilled all of their obligations".
Russia's anti-doping agency (Rusada) had pledged to follow international recommendations to get the ban - implemented after an initial Wada report in 2015 - lifted.
However, two criteria remain outstanding - granting Wada access to the Moscow laboratory suspected to be the hub of the operation, and a public acceptance that senior sports ministry figures were complicit in an organised cover-up.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will make the final decision on Russia's participation in the Winter Games in Pyeongchang at its next board meeting, which takes place from 5-7 December
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