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Italy national football team
World Cup | Qualifiers
Oct 16, 2012 at 7.45pm UK
 
Denmark national football team

3-1

Cesare Prandelli: 'Mario Balotelli starting to mature'

Cesare Prandelli: 'Mario Balotelli starting to mature'
© PA Photos
Italy manager Cesare Prandelli rejects the notion that selecting Mario Balotelli is a gamble.

Italy manager Cesare Prandelli believes that striker Mario Balotelli is showing signs of developing into a mature international footballer.

The Azzurri boss praised the Manchester City forward following his strike against Denmark in last night's 3-1 win and rejected the notion that selecting him was a gamble.

"He has understood what he has to do for Italy," he said. "I say that from now on the Balotelli in an Azzurri jersey has to be the one we saw at San Siro against the Danes.

"When I talk about Balotelli, I do not like the suggestion he is a gamble, but the moment has certainly come for him to take his share of responsibility in an Italy shirt.

"I want a national team that is always targeting improvement, even if I'd like to have more time to try out some young players."

Italy moved to the top of World Cup qualifying Group B after seeing off Morten Olsen's side.

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Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Netherlands Netherlands32107
Q Senegal flag Senegal32016
3 Ecuador flag Ecuador31114
4 Qatar Qatar30030

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
Q England flag England32107
Q United States USA31205
3 Iran Iran31023
4 Wales flag Wales30121

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Argentina Argentina32016
Q Poland Poland31114
3 Mexico Mexico31114
4 Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia31023

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
Q France France32016
Q Australia Australia32016
3 Tunisia Tunisia31114
4 Denmark Denmark30121

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Japan Japan32016
Q Spain Spain31114
3 Germany Germany31114
4 Costa Rica flag Costa Rica31023

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Morocco Morocco32107
Q Croatia Croatia31205
3 Belgium Belgium31114
4 Canada Canada30030

Group G

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Brazil Brazil32016
Q Switzerland Switzerland32016
3 Cameroon flag Cameroon31114
4 Serbia Serbia30121

Group H

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Portugal Portugal32016
Q Republic of Korea South Korea31114
3 Uruguay flag Uruguay31114
4 Ghana flag Ghana31023


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