Mario Balotelli out of Italy qualifier

Mario Balotelli has been ruled out of Italy's World Cup qualifier with Armenia on Friday with a fever.

Coach Cesar Prandelli had included the Manchester City striker in the starting XI that he announced would face the Group B minnows on Thursday.

Balotelli has since been struck by the illness, but Prandelli is hopeful that the forward will return for the qualifier against Denmark on Tuesday.

Juventus forward Sebastian Giovinco will take his place and partner Roma's Pablo Osvaldo in attack.