Balotelli says he could have score for Italy in North Macedonia defeat

Mario Balotelli believes he could have helped goal-shy Italy score in North Macedonia defeat… as former Man City star insists he is ‘always missed when we lose’ but reveals he still has ‘affection’ for Roberto Mancini despite World Cup play-off snub

  • Italy’s hopes of reaching the World Cup were ended by North Macedonia 
  • Mario Balotelli was snubbed by Roberto Mancini to play in play-off semi-final 
  • The 31-year-old had been called up to a 35-man training camp in January 
  • Former Man City star believes he could have made a difference had he played 

Mario Balotelli insists he could have helped Italy avoid their humiliating defeat by North Macedonia last week by getting Roberto Mancini’s goal-shy team on the scoresheet.

The European champions failed to qualify for a second successive World Cup finals after Aleksandar Trajkovski’s stoppage-time winner for North Macedonia in their play-off semi-final in Palermo.

The chastening defeat was part of a run which saw Mancini’s men score just once in three games, prior to Tuesday night’s 3-2 win against Turkey in a friendly.

Mario Balotelli believes he could have scored for Italy in their defeat by North Macedonia

The Azzurri failed to qualify for a second straight World Cup after a shock loss in Palermo

But former Manchester City star Balotelli, 31, claims he is only missed ‘when we lose’ and claims the Azzurri had the opportunities to avoid a shock defeat last week. 

‘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.’

Balotelli was called up by Mancini in January for a 35-man special training camp at their Coverciano base, but was ultimately snubbed for last week’s World Cup semi-final play-off.

Roberto Mancini snubbed Balotelli for the game but says he still has ‘affection’ for the Italy boss

But the Adana Demirspor striker – who remains Italy’s last goalscorer at a World Cup after his goal against England in 2014 – insists the bigger picture hurts more than his omission last week.

‘It hurts, but the matter is not the call-up against North Macedonia or Turkey. The World Cup is in December and I could have been part of the team,’ Balotelli continued.

‘I think I had a chance and I’ve lost an important opportunity. To see Italy out of the World Cup is too bad.’

Balotelli remains Italy’s last goalscorer at a World Cup after his goal against England in 2014

Balotelli also revealed he has not spoken to his former Man City boss Mancini since being left out against North Macedonia, but said he still had ‘affection’ for the 57-year-old, who he said ‘deserves to stay’ as boss.

‘I haven’t spoken to him yet, but I have affection for him,’ Balotelli added.

‘I am happy that he will remain in charge because he has already won the Euros. People are disappointed, but we can’t forget what the coach has achieved. 

‘Italy have a strong team, but nobody expected us to become European champions. Mancini deserves to stay.’




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