As Mario Balotelli rebuilds his career in Turkey, his Italy career disappearing further and further away into the rear-view mirror, it’s easy to forget how unstoppable he once was.
Back in the summer of 2012, the Azzurri striker travelled to the European Championships off the back of a title-winning campaign with Manchester City. Balotelli had even laid on that Sergio Aguero goal with what would be his only assist in the Premier League, and was in high spirits as Cesare Prandelli’s team set off for Poland to begin their campaign.
Italy themselves had some improving to do, of course. Their defence of their World Cup title ended in the group stage in 2010, though an unbeaten qualifying campaign offered hope. Balotelli didn’t score in any of those qualifiers, or in the first two games at the Euros proper, but he would later produce one of the best individual performances in recent Euros memory.
