Mueez Ajao
– Mario Balotelli has said he could have been Italy’s matchwinner had he been selected for their World Cup playoff where they suffered a shock 1-0 loss to North Macedonia.
– The Adana Demirspor striker, whose last appearance for the national side was in 2018, was recently recalled to the national side by manager Roberto Mancini for a training camp.
– Italy have endured difficulties in front of goal since their victory at Euro 2020 with Tuesday’s 3-2 win over Turkey just the second time they have scored more than one goal in a match since their shootout win over England at Wembley and Balotelli suggested he may have made a difference in attack.
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– “I’m always missed when we lose,” Balotelli told Sky Sport Italia. “It’s easy to say it now but before the match no one thought about me.
– “I watched the match and there were were opportunities. In front of goal I’m pretty good and I’m not saying we would have won if I had been playing but there were opportunities to score”
– Mancini, who also managed Balotelli at Inter Milan and Manchester City, recalled the striker to the Italy squad in 2018 when he was appointed after a four-year absence.
– And Balotelli said he was happy to hear Mancini is likely to remain as Italy manager despite the failure to reach the 2022 World Cup.
– “I haven’t spoken to him, but I have a great relationship with the manager and am so happy he is staying, especially as, in just a few years as manager he is already a European champion,” Balotelli added.
– “It’s OK that people are disappointed or sad because of the failed qualification, it hurts that we are not going to Qatar but you can’t forget that, in just a short time, the manager led a team that was, yes, strong, but that no one expected [to win] to the Euro 2020 title.
– “Mancini has done a great job. He deserves to continue and I am happy he is staying.”
