SCORER AGAINST ARMENIA, BALOTELLI AVOIDS THE PRESS

Mario Balotelli, after an incident in which he shoved a journalist in Naples, has reportedly decided to avoid speaking to the press. Following Italy’s match against Armenia (2-2), Balotelli did not stop in the mixed zone, swiftly passing through. Despite his avoidance of the media, Balotelli emphasized his focus on performance: “You say bad things, I score.” The Italian national coach, Cesare Prandelli, acknowledged Balotelli’s importance to the team and expressed the hope that the player can leave behind any issues and maintain his composure. Balotelli has scored 11 goals in 26 caps for the Italian national team.