Balotelli risks missing Euro 2012

Posted Thursday, March 01, 2012 by Supersport.com

Italy coach Cesare Prandelli said he expects Mario Balotelli to improve his discipline on the pitch if he wants to be on the Azzurri squad at Euro 2012.

Speaking ahead of Wednesday's friendly with the United States for which Balotelli was not picked for disciplinary reasons, the selector issued what amounts to an ultimatum for the talented striker of Manchester City.

"Balotelli was handed eight games of suspension, so far, in England. It is a lot," Prandelli said. "A great player must be able to face provocation, he should not react.

"He can still have an extraordinary career, but there is no justification for certain kinds of behaviour."

The coach planned to start the friendly in Genoa with Alessandro Matri and Sebastian Giovinco in an attack package he is rebuilding as Antonio Cassano and Giuseppe Rossi hope to recover from heart problems and knee surgery, respectively.

"I will wait for Rossi and Cassano until the last moment," the coach said.

"In the roster I have in mind, Balotelli is a first-teamer at Euro 2012. Now he has to show a consistency in good behaviour, without accepting provocations."

The 21-year-old of Ghanaian origins received his last red card, followed by a four-game ban, for a foul on Scott Parker of Tottenham in late January.

Since joining City for Inter Milan in 2010, he was booked 10 times and red-carded twice in the Premier League, where he scored 16 goals from 33 games.

He has seven appearances and one goal with the Azzurri.

Italy face holders Spain, Croatia and Ireland in the group stage of the tournament hosted by Poland and Ukraine from June 8 to July 1.