The Italian National Team Needs Balotelli’s Role

DBasia.news – From the Euro 2020 champions, the Italian national team is now getting high attention following the results in the 2022 World Cup Qualifiers. Italy failed to qualify directly for the Qatar World Cup and had to go through the play-off phase.

Italy is in second place in Group C of the 2022 World Cup Qualifiers in the European Zone, two points adrift of Switzerland. Certainty was obtained after the draws against Switzerland (1-1) and Northern Ireland (0-0) in the November international break.

That means Gli Azzurri – Italy’s nickname – must go through the semifinals and finals in the play-offs in order to get a ticket to play in the 2022 World Cup. With the fact that Italy is absent at the 2018 World Cup, it adds to the pressure on Roberto Mancini’s squad.

One of the big problems seen in the Italy squad, and already seen at Euro 2020, is a capable centre-forward. In that area Italy is short on ammunition despite the talented talent in the squad such as Federico Chiesa and Nicolo Barella.

At Euro 2020 Ciro Immobile was not Italy’s top scorer and his back-up, Andrea Belotti was no better. Italy became a champion thanks to the passion, collectivity and mentality that was built together at that time.

Despite being champions, the fact that Italy lacks a goal-hungry centre-forward, finisher, and can finish chances is clear. No doubt Mancini was asked to recall the 31-year-old striker, Mario Balotelli.

Worth Calling Back

While the public often highlights the controversy of Balotelli, who has played for the Duo Milan, Manchester City and Liverpool, the player is currently resurrecting his career in Turkey with Vincenzo Montella’s Adana Demirspor.

Balotelli has so far scored five goals in 13 matches. No doubt according to his brother, Enock Barwuah, Mancini deserves to give the inspector a chance to return to 14 goals from 36 caps with Italy.

“We are not a team like France, which has players like Karim Benzema, Kylian Mbappe and Olivier Giroud,” Enock Barwuah told Notizie.com some time ago.

“With all due respect to Italy, we don’t have that kind of attacking option. This is why someone like Balotelli cannot be ignored, even just as part of the squad.”

“I don’t understand how Mario can be left at home (not brought into the squad). He may not have had the most outstanding records at his various clubs, but when he wore the Italian shirt, he changed.”

“It’s very disappointing when it comes to Mario, people don’t look at what he does on the pitch, but what happens outside of him. He loved the Nazionale very much and didn’t play for Italy for four years, despite scoring more goals than any other player called up.”

“Listen, he will never do what Immobile and Andrea Belotti did, he’s not a guy who works hard for the team, but he has other characteristics and can score goals from nowhere. For a team that is fighting to score goals he is ideal.”

The new international break will reopen in March. Balotelli, who has a good relationship with Mancini, did not think twice about being called up to the Italian national team.

“I have a very good relationship with Mancini, and I have always had him. I feel ready to return to the national team,” added Balotelli.

“It would be a dream. I would have left Turkey on foot now if I had known I had a call in March.”