Italy V Germany

So much expectations on the German team, it was perhap their time to win it, with this youthful and attacking players they were even compared to Spain at one point. They were pegged back by the Italians who showed grit and determination, although it did begin very nervy and Gigi Buffon did look a little nervous to begin with, but as the game went on both side found their rythm.
Whatever the English pundits decide to say, I say that Germany did play well although the amount of time and space they gave Andrea Pirlo was a bit naive, some may say a little arrogant. Possesion through the game were more or less equal, and unlike England, Germany didn't just put 6 players behind the ball- they actually played.
This was a game set up for one man to either become a villan or a hero for the people of Italy, and the man ( or boy!) was Mario Balotelli. He didn't have as many shots than he did against England, but then again he was playing against a strong German side, overall he had 3 shots, but most importantly... 2 ripped the back of the net. When he scored the first on 20 minutes he celebrated with a smile, and when he score the 2nd on 36 minutes he had a look of someone who had something to prove, yet that moody look didn't last long as Claudio Marchisio ran up to embrace the giant lad.
In my opinion Balootelli is starting to play better for his team and a large part of that is because he feels more appreciated. In the Azzurri they haven't got the likes of Tevez or Aguero like the do at Man City, the legends of the Italian game have started to fade away, the likes os Baggio, Del Piero and Totti have gone,now this is a whole new era."Super Mario" did get a needless yellow card for the removal of his shirt, which could cost them in the final against Spain. Germany did have a penalty late into stoppages and Mesut Ozily cooly slot it in, the last few minutes were shaky and I knew in my gut it could just take one lucky goal for everything to change, and believe me, after Euro 2000, I don't think I can take it.
Mario can be the cutting edge and the player that can finish off a game before it gets too close, yet he has to keep his head and stop getting needless cards, I mean getting a card for your celebration, it's ridiculas and it doesn't really stop anyone from doing it and why would you want to stop them? Although now if Spain try to bait Balotelli knowing full well what a volitile character he is, it will go against Italy very quickly. The good thing about the Azzurri is that everyone knows to hug Mario after the game, because I truly thin he is just misunderstood and could have a wonderful career if he had the right mentor, and it's looking more and more likely that Antonio Cassano is that man, as after his first goal Mario went straight to him, and with Cassano being a former " bad boy" may be able to steer him towards hero status?

FORZA AZZURRI