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The Two Sides of Mario Balotelli
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The UEFA Under-21 Tournament (happening in Sweden right now, but being overshadowed by the Confed Cup) is basically a glimpse into the future. To steal paraphrase something I once heard Tim Vickery say about the U-20 World Cup, watching these players is like watching the trailers for movies that are “coming soon”.
And watching Mario Balotelli in Italy’s 2-1 win over Sweden, where he scored a brilliant goal and then got himsdelf sent off fifteen minutes later, was maybe a story we’ll see again in various forms over the next few years. Let’s start with the positive, here’s Balotelli’s goal:
Can’t argue with that. Nice touch and turn from young Giovinco, followed by the sort of finish the senior Italy side could have used vs Egypt on Thursday. But fifteen minutes later this happened:
Not the worst foul in the world, for sure. But looked like there was at least one and possibly two attempts to kick Pontus Wernbloom there. And something about the way Balotelli sat there on the floor afterwards suggested he knew a red card was coming.
There’s almost no doubt that Mario Balotelli will be one of the big names in world football. And we’ll likely be talking about him for years to come. Good news is that Balotelli is only 18, so there’s plenty of time left for him to grow up. Wayne Rooney seems to have done it, mostly. So hopefully we’ll be able to spend the next decade (and more) talking about Balotelli’s talents rather than his temperament.
[vids via 101GG]
With Mourinho and Ibra as mentors, what the hell do you expect?
Posted from 
United States
That is the best ref ever.
“Alright everybody back I got this, everybody get back *Takes out red card, palms it an hides it*. Alright Mario, it’s time to get up now…OH hey Mario…you forgot something. BAM! Mother Fuggah RED CARD!”
Never saw it coming, best thing ever.
Deleted – Daryl
Posted from United States
Deleted – Daryl
Posted from United States
Racism….Just Don’t Do It
Wasn’t even a red card in my opinion. If you watch the game, one of the Swedish players put in a terrible tackle on Balotelli minutes earlier and only got a yellow. Was 20 times worse than that nothing kick.
Balotelli doesn’t help himself with some of his actions, but no way was that a red.
Posted from 
United Kingdom
Someone should probably delete this clown joe’s comments too.
Posted from United Kingdom
Balotelli will become the greatest striker in the world bad attitude or not.
Have to side with Balotelli on this one. Awkward and untidy the initial challenge was, the Sweedish player really sold it and there was not a second attempt to kick him. Stupid red, in much the same way the US got a crappy red against Italy in the Confed Cup. Instant replay still not up for discussion UEFA/FIFA?
joe: pele is the best footballer ever, and lets just say hes not russian.
balotelli is a beast and its a shame he is inter scum. i mean what are the chances that inter would have an italian in the first place? plus he tries to copy dida (and poorly) with the head carvings. Giovinco is better and much more mature, he has del piero to look up to not ibra and mourinho as alesio said.
Posted from United States
white, black or purple polka dot…NO BALOTELLI IN NAZIONALE!!! He deserves a kick in the ass and a trip to Serie C!
To Francesco, i agree Cassano and Baletelli are head cases but Italy’s last two world class talents?! Do the names Giuseppe Rossi, Davide Santon, Sebastion Giovinco, and Marco Motta mean nothing?
Posted from United States
Cassano is far from a head case right now. The guy has grown into a world class leader at Sampa.
As for Balotelli, im glad the author mentioned Wayne Rooney, a lot of criticism is being layed on this 18 year old, he’ll grow into a classy player, wayne rooney was even worse at his age and he turned out okay. I agree Inter may not be the best atmosphere for him with a real headcase like Ibrah running around.
As entertaining as the “expert” opinion by the Juventus contingent is – and it is pretty funny – if Mourinho is on that bench, Balotelli doesn’t try to kick that guy who fouled him.
Mourinho has and will yank his ass to the bench or the stands and sit him.
I wonder if Casiraghi has the marbles to sit him.
P.S. that is a soft, soft red.
Not Suprised that Balotelli got a Red card…………………
Even he said to Corriere dello Sport ………that he knew he was going to get red carded…..
Watch his teamates……..even they walk away ……………
Again he’s talented, but needs stop his crappy behavior…
I don’t think it was worthy of a red. He and the ref were surrounded by yellow shirts.
Posted from United Kingdom
psknights, I should’ve specified I meant attacking talents. Santon has world class potential too. Motta not yet. Giovinco has potential but he hasn’t exploded either. And Cassano and Balotelli have more pure talent than Giuseppe Rossi.
Please don’t disrespect Mario Balotelli by saying copying Dida with the head carvings. Let me say this – Balotelli is a G. A true technical genius at only 18. But most of all… he’s a straight up bad-ass gangsta. He -will- become the world’s best striker, and no little Swede is going to get in his way. This kid is not afraid of anybody, and has 100% total confidence in his own talents. Everyone knows that he should be the striker on the senior team. Maybe he could teach Andrea how to hit a free kick.
That wasn’t a red! Nice playacting by that punk Swede.
Supermario is an awesome talent, the best talent in Italian football with world domination potential, and I am salivating to see him in the senior team. He will grow up, don’t worry, he is only eighteen and under a lot of pressure.
Posted from United Kingdom
I watch Serie A and Premier League games in roughly equal proportion, and when I’ve had the chance to watch Balotelli play, he struck me as a player trying to find a balance between both immense talent and an outsized mean streak. He’s similar to Rooney at the same point in that way, but unlike Rooney, whose intemperance came (and comes–see Fulham this year) in bursts of rage, he plays the entire match in a cold rage–Balotelli is downright ornery. Mourinho’s the ideal manager to mold him into a more disciplined and focused player (see Drogba), but the fact that he’s just 18 means this will probably take a few years to see results.
This was a joke of a call — where are the calls for unfair straight red cards (USA ITALY Confed 09)?
Also — to answer your blog of justification, how do you feel now that the Swedish player admitted to diving:
Where is UEFA’s punishment of the dive?
Italy needs a striker with Mario’s skill and confidence for 2010. They only scored against the US who I think had stage fright at that stage. Luca Toni’s time is up. So is Gilardino.
Nice to see some pricks racism brings out teh best in everybody else!!
Where is that picture from, love the seriousness whilst he nochalently balances the ball. Shows how easy his talent comes to him…
Posted from United Kingdom
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It’s a shame our last two world class talents are headcases (Cassano, Balotelli). Couldn’t they have followed Roberto Baggio’s personality? At least it looks like Cassano has finally grown up. Balotelli should realize he has to grow up quickly because this kid is insanely talented.