Mario Balotelli insists he had a chance to play at the World Cup with Italy, but notes ‘people remember about me only when the Azzurri lose.’
Balotelli had received a call-up for a get-together at Coverciano at the end of January, boosting his hopes to be part of the World Cup play-offs squad in March. However, coach Roberto Mancini omitted the ex-Milan and Inter striker from his 33-man squad list.
The Azzurri eventually lost against North Macedonia in the semi-finals, failing to qualify for the World Cup for the second time in a row. It had never happened in the history of Italian football.
“It hurts, but the matter is not the call-up against North Macedonia or Turkey. The World Cup is in December and I could have been part of the team,” Balotelli told Sky Sport Italia.
“I think I had a chance and I’ve lost an important opportunity. To see Italy out of the World Cup is too bad.”
Ciro Immobile has failed to replicate his Lazio form with the national team and the Azzurri have been struggling to score goals during the second part of the World Cup qualification path after the Euros, raising questions on whether Balotelli would be useful for the team.
“I am only missing when Italy lose. It’s easy to say it now because, before the match, nobody was thinking about me,” said the striker.
“I watched the match against North Macedonia, we had some good chances. I am quite good in front of the goal. It doesn’t mean we’d win with me on the pitch, but we’d had good chances to score.”
What’s his relationship with Mancini and is he happy that he will remain in charge of the Azzurri?
“I haven’t spoken to him yet, but I have affection for him,” admitted Balotelli.
“I am happy that he will remain in charge because he has already won the Euros. People are disappointed, but we can’t forget what the coach has achieved. Italy have a strong team, but nobody expected us to become European champions. Mancini deserves to stay.”