Turin, 11 May (LaPresse) – “Italy being given a wildcard for the World Cup? I don’t think there’s any chance of that, and besides, it wouldn’t be appropriate. You qualify on the pitch; that remains my position.” So said the Minister for Sport and Youth, Andrea Abodi, speaking via video link at the 28th edition of the ‘Direzione Nord’ event in Milan. ‘You qualify on merit, not for bureaucratic reasons,’ he added. ‘I also believe that if any national team were to be absent, it would be replaced by a national team from the same confederation.’
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