Italy boss has faith in Balotelli for Euro 2012

Italy coach Cesare Prandelli has confirmed that he intends to include Mario Balotelli in his Euro 2012 squad despite the Manchester City forward's continuing disciplinary problems. He also said that the Azzurri were now 50% weaker than in their impressive qualifying campaign because of injuries and a number of players losing their places with their clubs, but added that he was not worried about it. There had been doubts about whether Balotelli would make Prandelli's squad when the 21-year-old was given a three-match ban after being sent off while playing for City in a 1-0 Premier League defeat by Arsenal last month. But Prandelli said he has faith that arguably the most gifted player available to him has learned his lesson. "We have to give talented players one more chance and he does not lack talent," the former Fiorentina coach said in a interview published in Wednesday's Corriere della Sera. "He cannot make any more mistakes and I'm convinced he will not make any more mistakes". Prandelli has twice dropped Balotelli, who has also frequently been in the headlines for some bizarre off-field antics, in the past after violent-conduct suspensions in accordance with his code of conduct for the national team. With less than a month to go to the start of Euro 2012, the coach also gave a remarkably blunt assessment of Italy's strength after recent setbacks. Villarreal's Giuseppe Rossi will miss the tournament in Ukraine and Poland with a knee injury, while AC Milan's Antonio Cassano, Italy's top scorer in the qualifiers, has only just returned after having an operation in November on a heart defect that caused him to have a minor stroke. The other striker Prandelli used most frequently in the qualifying campaign, Inter Milan's Giampaolo Pazzini, is one of a number of Italy players who have not been featuring regularly in their clubs' starting lineups. Other players in this situation include Inter defender Andrea Ranocchia, Juventus forwards Alessandro Matri and Marco Borriello and Milan midfielder Alberto Aquilani. "A lot has changed recently, because of the injuries that have hit us over the last six-seven months and because lots of players have lost their places (with their clubs)," Prandelli said. "So the potential of the squad has diminished by 50%." The coach, however, thinks the four-time world champions will be able to thrive in adversity. "I'm not worried and I won't have to improvise (tactical solutions)," he said. "Enthusiasm will have to be our ally and the desire to amaze will have to be stronger than all the difficulties. Let's not forget that you can encounter some pleasant surprises in difficult situations."