Mario Balotelli doesn’t believe that Italy’s Group D rivals England can win the World Cup.
The Azzurri face the Three Lions in their first match of the tournament on June 14 in the Amazonian city of Manaus.
But the Milan striker has claimed that Roy Hodgson’s men don’t have the ‘mentality or the experience’ to win in Brazil.
Mario Balotelli doesn’t believe that Italy’s Group D rivals England can win the World Cup.
The Azzurri face the Three Lions in their first match of the tournament on June 14 in the Amazonian city of Manaus.
But the Milan striker has claimed that Roy Hodgson’s men don’t have the ‘mentality or the experience’ to win in Brazil.
“I don’t look at England as a team that can win the World Cup,” he is reported as saying by the Daily Mail.
“They have some good players, but they are no real rivals for Italy.
“I am not saying that Italy are favourites, but we have the mentality and experienced players to surprise people — I don’t think England have that.
“We have players who have won the World Cup, I don’t think England have a player who knows what it is like to play past the quarter-final.”
Balotelli is wary though, that his side have to be on top of their game in that opening clash if they want to progress far in the tournament.
“In the opening game we have to respect England because it is important to get off to a good start.
“They have maybe two or three players who can hurt us, but we feel well prepared for the tournament and expect to start off with a win.”