Fifteen minutes to go. A Sweden goal would leave Italy needing three. All sorts of trouble.

Adam Oldroyd: The best ever Italian moment was undoubtedly the 1982 clash with Brazil - it was also the first match I watched from start to finish #bbcfootball, external#foreverhooked, external

James Horncastle
European football writer

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The pressure, as the Swedes keep reminding them, is on Italy and Ventura.

"In our collective imagination a World Cup without Italy would be more improbable than a spaceship landing in St Peter's square from Saturn," wrote La Gazzetta dello Sport's Fabio Licari before.

To generations of Italians it is unthinkable. They do not know any different.

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The final round of World Cup qualifying is taking place, and 27 countries are already assured of their places alongside hosts Russia at next summer's 32-team tournament.

Five-time winners Brazil are there, as are defending champions Germany, plus Argentina, Belgium, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Egypt, England, France, Iceland, Iran, Japan, Mexico, Morocco, Nigeria, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Tunisia and Uruguay.

So how did they get there? Who will be their star performers? And who are the coaches who masterminded their qualification?

Have a read.

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Brazil are the only team to have played in every World Cup - 21 and counting (if we include next summer).

Italy have made 18 appearances, the third best record, and will draw level with Germany on 19 with a win tonight.

They didn't enter the first one in 1930 but won the two after that.

Sweden have been to 11 finals so far - the same number as Switzerland and hosts Russia.

Like Ricky Villa's goal at Wembley I always felt that the keeper and the last man could do better on this one - but it's a classic all the same!

I was in Germany for the 2006 World Cup and followed Italy around for part of the trip - their fans were not tired of singing 'Seven Nation Army' and it is currently being bellowed out inside the San Siro as well.

Will Sweden come and sit back? The opening salvoes could be key.

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Italy will be in a state of "tension" as they bid to avoid a World Cup exit against Sweden, says goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon in what could be his final competitive international.

The Azzurri, who lost the first leg 1-0, will fail to reach a World Cup for the first time since 1958 if they do not win at the San Siro.

Buffon said: "It's an important match for us and our history.

"I'm tense, but it's the right amount of tension."

The 39-year-old Juventus goalkeeper, who is retiring at the end of the season, will win his 175th cap against the Swedes.

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Italy have won the World Cup four times, and have only failed to qualify once before.

In 1958 they finished second to Northern Ireland in their qualification group and so missed out.

This one Mazza?

Brilliant...

THAT PASS

What are your favourite Italy/Sweden World Cup moments?

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It may surprise you to discover that Sweden have not qualified for the World Cup since 2006.

Last time around they lost in the play-offs to Portugal. This time they hope to make it all the way to Russia...

Sweden make two changes from the first leg - in come goalscorer Jakob Johansson and Celtic right-back Mikael Lustig.

Italy: Buffon, Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini, Candreva, Florenzi, Jorginho, Parolo, Darmian, Gabbiadini, Immobile. Subs: Donnarumma, Rugani, Gagliardini, Belotti, Insigne, Astori, De Rossi, Eder, Bernardeschi, Zappacosta, El Shaarawy, Perin.

Sweden: Olsen, Lustig, Lindelof, Granqvist, Augustinsson, Claesson, Johansson, Sebastian Larsson, Forsberg, Toivonen, Berg. Subs: Johnsson, Olsson, Thelin, Guidetti, Helander, Svensson, Krafth, Jansson, Rohden, Durmaz, Sema, Nordfeldt.

Referee: Antonio Miguel Mateu Lahoz (Spain)

Maybe it's my age, but it really would be odd to not have Italy at the World Cup next summer.

What are your favourite memories of Italy or Sweden at a World Cup? Who will come out on top tonight?

1-0 win, penalties anyone?

Fire away on 81111 (UK Only) or at #bbcfootball

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Under-pressure Italy coach Giampiero Ventura, the oldest boss in the country's history at 69, says they will try to qualify by "playing football".

Ventura, who replaced Antonio Conte after Euro 2016, said: "We are Italy and, if we qualify, I would like to be able to say that we did it by playing football.

"I don't know what sort of game it will be but I hope it will be played in the correct spirit."

Italy manager Giampiero Ventura is not here to make friends - he leaves Lorenzo Insigne on the bench again!

He makes three changes as Southampton forward Manolo Gabbiadini, Jorginho and Alessandro Florenzi all start.

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Italy will have to replace the suspended Marco Verratti tonight.

In the first leg, Lorenzo Insigne - the Napoli winger many Italian fans think should have started - was brought on to replace Verratti in central midfield.

Is he Italy's best player?

"I've received so much advice in the last few days that - if I tried to listen to it all it would take months," said former Torino boss Ventura.

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You can't have a World Cup without Italy, right?

The divine ponytail, Buffon's anthems, Nessun Dorma, Schillaci, Pirlo, Balotelli back post, Tardelllllliiiii!

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But this current crop of Azzurri are letting the side down.

If they don't win tonight they will miss their first World Cup in 50 years.

Can they turn it around? Or will it Sweden partying into the Milanese evening?

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