It's like talking with Borriello supporters. No matter how bad he is, I will always read thing like "he fought hard", "he made his presence".
WHO CARES?
First and foremost I am as far from a Balotelli supporter as the average member here is away from supporting Inter. Second I care, you do, apparently, and at least several other posters that just replied in the last few minutes. That is the reality now.
He was the worst Italian player, his play didn't do anything good for the team. He wasted the best chance of the game and did it in a pathetic way. He is a striker, he is supposed to score goals and create danger which he didn't do at all. 5 minutes after he is subbed, Di Natale does what Balotelli should have done. That's a real striker.
I still don't understand how was his chance better than Torres' for instance...?!? ... But let's not start by putting the entire context of your statement under suspicion. Let's just say that he wasted the best chance for italy in the first half, one that he created for himself through sheer determination and HARD WORK. He can't tackle, run and score every 5 minutes... you know, right? ... but he was giving a damn good account of himself so far. Have you even noticed Di Natale of Jewvinco doing such things?... Which conveniently brings me to my next point: Did you even notice that once Balotelli was off Italy lost the foothold on the final third of the pitch, spanish defenders went much more comfortable on the ball and Italy switched to a more counter-attacking style/balls over the top which obviously suits Di Natale best? If you had noticed then you could begin to grasp the effect 'the worst' player had on the game...

Yes, of course, he was booked and , of course, it was a stupid booking but he was tackling (he did the same thing against Arsenal/Sagna, but way more irresponsibly) and defenders were feeling the heat. These are Ramos and Pique we are talking about and they were nowhere near comfortable on the ball. If anything the spaces Cassano had (cause him and the midgit were playing OFF the other striker) were almost incomparable with the ones he had with Di Natale and the ones Giovinco had later on./But this Imho has more to do with Cassano's / Giovinco's difference in skills/.
So - all in all - I would give 6 out of 10 to Balotelli. And it would have been 7 if not for the booking/8 for the miss.
He was also chosen as the worst Italian player by pretty much every source, be it english, italian or whatever. Only his biggest fanboys here can say he did anything good and didn't play bad.
That is simply untrue. What is true though is the thing I've mentioned above - pundits got to eat.
---------- Post added 10.06.2012 at 23:18 ----------
Both Gio and Balotelli were shit. DEAL. WITH. IT.
I guess that is you trying to comprehend what others are saying...

Nice photo Jackie Chan!
