One by one, the Euro 2012 sharpshooters have packed their bags. First, Robin van Persie and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, scorers of a combined 59 league goals last season, headed home after Holland’s miserable showing in the Group of Death, along with the emerging duo Alan Dzagoev and Mario Mandzukic, of Russia and Croatia respectively. Then out went Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney, who racked up 27 league goals last season, but failed to reproduce that form in Poland/Ukraine, and disappointing French frontman Karim Benzema. And the semi-finals proved to be the end of the road for Germany’s Mario Gomez and, of course, Portugal’s polarising talisman Cristiano Ronaldo.
Given that finalists Spain have progressed through most of the tournament without a recognised striker, that just leaves Italy’s irrepressible Mario Balotelli, who now has three Euro 2012 goals to his name – why always him? The 21-year-old continues to be one of the most electric, unpredictable talents in world football and he arrives in Kyiv for the Euro 2012 final with a chance to write another chapter.
After a rollercoaster 2011/12 season at Manchester City brought highlights, suspensions and, ultimately a title, there was every reason to wonder which Balotelli would turn up this summer – the fearless talent or the temperamental hothead. But Italy boss Cesare Prandelli has not wavered in his support for the striker, even on the eve of the semi-final when Balotelli had scored just once in four starts and had endured a frustrating night against England in the previous round. And that faith has now been rewarded.
Balotelli’s overall performance and ruthless finishing against Germany rank among the best this summer. He has benefited from an Italian style of play that could not be further from catenaccio, allowing midfielders Claudio Marchisio and Riccardo Montolivo license to raid forward to support Balotelli and Antonio Cassano while the peerless Andrea Pirlo and Daniele De Rossi pull the strings. In fact, it would be nothing short of a travesty if Pirlo does not walk away with the Player of the Tournament award.
Even in defeat, the Germans had 53% of the possession, more shots on goal and on target and 14 corners to Italy’s 0, but it was the men in blue who seized the opportunities when they presented themselves – and it was two-goal Balotelli who grabbed the chance to steal the headlines. His first was opportunistic, his second unstoppable.
There is a chance that Euro 2012 will go down as both Balotelli’s breakout party and the moment when he turned the corner in terms of maturity, from the touching embrace with his adoptive mother after the semi-final win to his destructive finishing on the pitch.
"This was the greatest night of my life and I hope Sunday will be better," he said after eliminating Germany. "At the end of the game I went to my mother – that was the best moment. I told her these goals were for her."
Amid the plaudits, it is easy to forget that the storyline for Balotelli had not been so rosy earlier in the tournament. Prior to the last four, "underwhelming" was perhaps the best word to describe the former Inter striker at Euro 2012. He had shown flashes of brilliance but at no point did he really leave his mark on a game. Until the semi-final, that is, when he reminded everyone why teams continue to dwell on his potential rather than his tantrums. As his celebration of his second goal showed, Balotelli is a powerhouse with the pace and strength to leave even the best defence reeling.
It certainly begs the question – why does the English Premier League not see this Balotelli on a weekly basis?
Sergio Ramos, Gerard Pique and the rest of the Spain defence will certainly be hoping that there is no repeat of that rampant Balotelli display. The Spaniards have not conceded since their 1-1 draw with Italy in their first group game, but will face a bigger threat than Ireland, Croatia, France or Portugal could muster. Confidence is once again coursing through Italian veins, a la 2006 as Prandelli’s blend of experience (Pirlo, De Rossi and Gianluigi Buffon) and exuberance (Balotelli, Cassano and Buffon again) continues to bring the desired results.
Balotelli loves the spotlight – and the drama and attention that comes with it. In the Euro 2012 final, he has the chance to take centre stage once again and lead Italy to glory. Love him or loathe him, he was born for moments like this.
Euro 2012 Final: Spain vs Italy Match Preview
Euro 2012 Betting: Spain v Italy – Bets not to Miss
