Croatia game no laughing matter for Italy’s jokers
IN ANOTHER life, Mario Balotelli and Antonio Cassano could have been Italy’s leading comedy double act. But their attacking partnership on the field is under threat ahead of the Euro 2012 Group C clash with Croatia today.
The pair are as mad as hatters, with Balotelli famous for his wacky antics, such as setting fire to his bathroom with fireworks and walking into a school full of children and asking for the toilet. Former wildman Cassano has calmed down slightly now that he is married with a child, but he loves nothing better than dancing around the pitch in only his underpants after a big game.
Today’s match is no laughing matter though, and coach Cesare Prandelli is considering splitting the duo up after forward Antonio Di Natale replaced Balotelli off the bench to score in the 1-1 draw with Spain in their group opener.
Croatia, who beat Ireland 3-1 in their first match, pose a very different threat to Spain given their aerial prowess, and Prandelli must decide if Balotelli’s strength and height outweigh the fact he struggled against the holders.
“He is a guy of 22 years of age, he is on the road to finding maturity. What I ask is for him to play simply. To help the team and to stretch the play behind the opposition defence,” Prandelli told reporters while reflecting on Balotelli’s bad miss against Spain when he was caught in two minds and tackled.
“When he makes a mistake he must think that there will be other opportunities … and find the conviction to make the right decision next time.
“The thing to underline is that he won the ball himself (in that chance). When you have two choices it slows you down.”
The moody Balotelli, who at time produces outrageous skill, is not the only player who risks being dropped in Poznan.
Cassano returned last month from five months out of play following heart surgery and although he played well against the world champions, he failed to manage the 90 minutes.
“I want to understand who is most tired,” said Prandelli, whose forwards are all on the small side except for Balotelli.
Prandelli even said he was reevaluating his new three-man defence for the Croatia game, but wholesale changes after a wellreceived display against Spain would worry Italian pundits.
Croatia were also praised for their fast-paced but disciplined dismantling of the Irish with striker Mario Mandzukic impressive in the air and Nikica Jelavic always dangerous as Luka Modric pulled the strings in midfield.
Coach Slaven Bilic thought his side came close to perfection against Ireland but he has been in charge too long and is too much of a tough taskmaster not to motivate his charges.
“We will be more relaxed and not under such pressure after the opening victory, but it can’t be much better than this in the next game,” he said.
“Italy are strong, they think about us and about our play.
“Prandelli respects us. They have a team and players who can dominate on the pitch.
“For me, they are not weaker than Spain, especially with Prandelli in charge.”
In today’s other game, Shay Given believes Ireland face a tougher task against the current Spain team in Group C than the one that ended his World Cup dream in 2002.
June 16 2002 is a day Given will never forget — when Gaizka Mendieta’s penalty ended Ireland’s involvement in the tournament after 120 minutes in which Mick McCarthy’s men had pushed the Spaniards all the way.
The second-round penalty shootout defeat ended a brave Irish challenge that had flourished despite the eve of tournament departure of star Roy Keane.
This year, the first time Ireland have returned to a major finals since 2002, there was no such scandal or off-pitch side show.
But after their opening game defeat to Croatia on Sunday, Ireland are under intense pressure to get a result against an allconquering Spanish team intent on creating even more history.
“I mainly remember we should have won the game,” Given recalled of that 2002 meeting.
“We lost on penalties and I was disappointed with the shoot-out but over the course of the game we should have won it. We had the better chances.
“I know they’ve come on so much since then, they were famously known as the team that never achieved anything at major championships, but they’ve certainly put that one to bed.
“They’ve won everything since that night, when it felt like we should have won, but they’ve come a long way since then. It’ll be a tougher task for us than then, certainly.” Reuters, Sapa-AFP