47 SUNDAY MAIL • July 1, 2012
Euro 2012
Maturing Balotelli puts his side’s laurels before his own
Platini floats the idea of a multi-state Euro 2020
Would give up Golden Boot shot for Italy victory
UEFA president Michel Platini has revealed the concept of one or two countries staging major tournaments may be abandoned for Euro 2020. Turkey had been favourites to host the event, but their bid has hit difficulties due to a desire to host the Olympic Games in Istanbul in the same year. And Platini has confirmed a radical alternative is now being considered. “The Euros in 2020 could be held all over Europe,” said Platini. “It could be either one country and 12 stadiums or one stadium in 12 or 13 cities.” Platini confirmed a final decision would be taken in January or February next year. “This matter will be discussed very seriously,” he added. Platini continued: “We will have a great debate about 2020 and discuss the pros and cons. “Then we will make a decision. I think it is a great idea.” Platini repeated his opposition to goal-line technology. “I am against technology,” he told the press conference in Kiev. “Where do we stop? There was a mistake in the Ukraine-England game. But there was an offside before that.” UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino said the controversial additional referees behind the goal would remain and also cited Ukraine’s effort against England as the only error. “There was full support for the system of additional referees to continue,” he said. “The experiment has been extremely positive. In over a thousand matches, there has been one mistake.” Infantino revealed that the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff will host the UEFA Super Cup in August 2014, with Tblisi in Georgia playing host in 2015.
By Simon Stone MARIO Balotelli would happily sacrifice his shot at the Golden Boot prize if it meant Italy won Euro 2012. Much has been made of Cristiano Ronaldo’s failure to take a penalty during Portugal’s shoot-out defeat to Spain on Wednesday amid claims the former Manchester United man wished to take the last kick because it offered more personal glory. At the start of the tournament, it would have been easy to imagine Balotelli taking a similar stance. However, throughout Italy’s run to today’s final against Spain, the 21-year-old has acted with a rare maturity. And, though he is the only one still involved amongst a group of players level on three goals, Balotelli insists the personal glory is not his overall aim. “If we win and I score, it will be amazing,” he said. “If I don’t score and we win it will still be amazing. “I am really happy at the moment and on Sunday I hope I will be even happier. “We are in the final. We are one of the two best teams in the tournament. We have to go there and play to win.” And should the Azzurri triumph today, he will have winners’ medals in a major international tournament, in addition to the Champions League, titles in England and Italy, plus the FA Cup. Not bad for someone who is still regarded as a joke player by his critics. Yet throughout all the controversy that has raged
For most of the past two years, Italy’s Balotelli (above left) has been compared unfavourably to City team-mate David Silva (below right), who will be waiting to meet him in the opposing Spain line-up in the Euro 2012 final today around Balotelli this season, City boss Roberto Mancini has continued to insist he was worth the effort. Mancini has been left exasperated and amused in equal measure by his Inter Milan protege’s antics. But he always knew Balotelli had immense talent, which is what Italy are reaping the benefits of now. “We won the league at Manchester City so having a good season for me doesn’t depend on winning the Euros,” he said. “If we don’t win it, it
wouldn’t spoil the other things but it would be special.” For most of the last two years, Balotelli has been compared unfavourably to City team-mate David Silva, who has not given Mancini a moment’s trouble since his arrival from Valencia. Silva is part of a Blues dressing room that holds Balotelli in genuine affection, for all the diversions he has caused. Today though, they will be on opposite sides. It is a challenge Balotelli is relishing.
“I know David very well,” said Balotelli. “I played against him in the first game. It is going to be fun.” Balotelli does not think the City fans will hold it against him that he helped knock England out of the tournament. Asked if he would return to Italy, he said in The Sun: “Come back now? I go back to Manchester. “The City fans always want me, even though they are British - and I have helped eliminate their national team.”
Spain keeper Casillas hails his Italy counterpart Buffon
High praise: Iker Casillas (left) has expressed his great admiration for Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon (right)
SPANISH goalkeeper Iker Casillas has spoken of his huge admiration for his Italian counterpart Gianluigi Buffon. Both men will captain their respective countries in today’s Euro 2012 final in Kiev and Casillas is expecting a close encounter similar to the 1-1 draw between the two in their opening game of the tournament. “Buffon has my admiration and maximum respect,” he told Onda Madrid. “He is an exceptional goalkeeper and at 34 is still amongst the best. For goalkeepers that are a little younger than him he has been a reference, he has driven us and we wanted to be like him. We have a good relationship and every time we meet it is a pleasure. “At the end we will return to face the team we opened the tournament against. The opponent didn’t matter to me because Germany, like Italy,
appeared very good, each one with their own style of football. Italy is a dangerous rival that will make it difficult for us.” The Real Madrid captain also insisted Spain are motivated solely by victory, even though a draw against Croatia in the final group game would have sent Italy home. “In no moment did we speculate about drawing 2-2. Our professionalism is like this. We wanted to win against Croatia, we had a moment in which they pushed and we could have been put out. Our objective was to win and those that have arrived here are honourable.” However, despite progressing to a historic third major final in a row, Spain have been criticised in many quarters for the lack of excitement in their play. The world champions have not conceded in 420 minutes of play since An-
tonio Di Natale handed Italy the lead in their opening game and have even played the majority of the tournament without a natural striker, but Casillas says he always expected this competition to be even tougher as reigning European and world champions. “We are the reference at a world level and we hope it lasts for a long time, but this is a cycle, another team will arrive and dominate the rest. We are the team to beat and they always talk about us. The important thing is we are in the final and we are going to try and defend our title from four years ago. “For the team and the players we are in a wonderful era of Spanish football. We are in the final, it has not been as easy as we expected. After four years at the top of world football it is normal that the other teams face us in a different manner.”