Euro 2012: James Milner wary of Mario Balotelli threat

By Phil McNultyChief football writer in Krakow

Last updated on .From the section Euro 2012comments65

England's James Milner says he does not know which version of Manchester City team-mate Mario Balotelli will turn up in Kiev for the Euro 2012 quarter-final with Italy.

Roy Hodgson's side face Balotelli's Italy in the last eight on Sunday.

"There are two Marios," said Milner. "There is the one who turns up sometimes in training when it is a bit cold and he is not too interested.

"The other one is when he really wants it and he is a special talent."

Milner was one of three City players who featured in the 1-0 win over Ukraine to secure a place in the last eight.

Goalkeeper Joe Hart and defender Joleon Lescott will be in close proximity to Balotelli, with Milner confident they can keep the unpredictable Italian, 21, under wraps.

He added: "We know that Mario is a top player but the lads at the back have been brilliant. We might give him a bit of banter before the game. It was good to see him score for Italy but our defenders have been fantastic.

"Joleon has been playing like that all season for City but now he is doing it for England as well. He knows Mario well, trains with him every day so I'm sure he will keep him quiet.

"Mario is a different player and he is going to cause you problems. He is very strong and tricky and he is a clever player as well. He is a danger for Italy but he is one of many. They have a lot of good players. We have to make sure we don't just concentrate on him. We will do our homework and try to perform well."

Lescott will be setting club allegiances aside and there will be no contact with Balotelli as there is business to attend to.

He said: "There won't be texts. We are here for different teams. We play together at club level but international level is totally different."

Lescott added: "Coming up against Mario is obviously going to be a tough task. I know the quality he possesses. At any time he can create something out of nothing. I am sure there will be strengths and weaknesses we will be looking to exploit against each other."

Wayne Rooney, who returned from suspension to score the winner against Ukraine, believes Sunday's quarter-final is an even match.

The Manchester United striker sees similarities between the two sides and thinks Andrea Pirlo will be a major threat.

Group stage possession graphic

Rooney told FATV: "Italy will be a tough game. We will have to be at our best to win it.

"They are quite similar to us in the way they play and have match-winners in Balotelli and [Antonio] Cassano.

"Pirlo is also great player. I would say it is 50-50 going into the game."

Hodgson admits he was expecting to be facing world and European champions Spain in the last eight.

But the England coach is anticipating a difficult challenge when his team face Cesare Prandelli's side.

He said: "Our preparation for Italy started on Wednesday. I watched the game between Spain and Croatia rather than Italy and Ireland [on Monday] partly thinking that if we were to do well, Spain would be a possible opponent.

"I have seen Italy play but I haven't studied them and how good they are, but they have been good enough to get out of a very tough group."

Comments

Join the conversation

These comments are now closed.

65 comments

  • Comment posted by U15314653, at 13:23 21 Jun 2012

    Should be a cracking game..I'm from Scotland but wishing England well.
    The commitment of the players, the tactical nous of the manager and the support being given is really great..

  • Comment posted by U10544828, at 12:23 21 Jun 2012

    If only Mario Balotelli was wary of the Milner threat.... I'm pretty sure he isn't.

  • Comment posted by U15140507, at 16:24 21 Jun 2012

    Do you think Balotelli is warning the Italy squad about the raw pace and attacking talent of Milner?

  • Comment posted by s_muel, at 14:41 21 Jun 2012

    Italy's biggest threat is Maggio and De Rossi. De Rossi takes no prisoners and maggio is tireless. The two fortunate things England have is these respective players are coming up against ashley Cole and Rooney. Two players whose work rate is second to none. If it was Wellbeck and Glen Johnson, England would lose.

  • Comment posted by U7024821, at 14:00 21 Jun 2012

    Milner is a most mediocre player and not international quality, IMHO. Not the sort of player who will cause the Italians to lose any sleep.

  • Comment posted by SeeDubya, at 13:47 21 Jun 2012

    What Milner needs to be more wary of is Roy Hodgson waking up and watching him play.

  • Comment posted by U15314653, at 13:38 21 Jun 2012

    I would however be more worried of Di Natalie, the guy's a goal machine and his 'on target' ratio per goal is pretty impressive!
    Good luck all the same though England, you work hard, you reap the rewards.

  • Comment posted by U15240692, at 03:31 22 Jun 2012

    England make Greece look like an exciting side !
    British sides are famed for playing with passion and flare , not boring fans to sleep with defensive displays that grind out results.
    Personally I would prefer my horse to fall at the first hurdle ,rather than watch it lamely hobble round and collapse towards the end of the race !
    Arise Mr Revie , your style of football has been embraced in 2012.

  • Comment posted by Josh, at 00:04 22 Jun 2012

    Also there has been a debate about Ashley young he is playing fine. He has defended very well and has put in some tasty crosses. This one is for the brainless English yobs who say why isnt he starting Walcott Milner is a player who balances the team he gets back puts a shift in you cant have two pace players on the wing at the same time at this level. Unless its Ronaldo and Nani.

  • Comment posted by TheoVodkat, at 21:46 21 Jun 2012

    If ever there were a game for Balotelli to get fired up for it is this one, hopefully he will be too fired up and lose his head...

  • Comment posted by Tubbyturner, at 21:14 21 Jun 2012

    l am a proud englishman.l have to say though what a poor Euro's this is.l dont think l am wrong in saying the tie between England and ltaly will be a dour affair.Either side do not have the players to set the world alight.l think the very fact we are worrying about Balotelli speaks volumns.Apart from Pirlo who is there really to speak of.Apart from Gerrard,England are mediocre at best.Sorry!

  • Comment posted by Eat_The_Rich, at 20:36 21 Jun 2012

    "England need to wind him up right from the kick off. He won't last 15 minutes."

    Can you imagine the English media foaming at the mouth if Johnny Foreigner did that?

  • Comment posted by LuckyJackson83, at 18:48 21 Jun 2012

    I for one am against cheating and the usual sort of bad gamesmanship that occurs in games but maybe my viewpoint is outdated. Maybe England need to cheat like other teams do. So maybe the players who know Baliotelli should rile him up and make him see red like Ronaldo did to Rooney in 2004. Maybe England will win a trophy when we start handballing the ball over the line or diving all over theplace

  • Comment posted by GeoffWode, at 18:27 21 Jun 2012

    Footballers should do their talking on the pitch
    As far as this tournament goes, James Milner is mute.
    Yeah, he runs alot, but those runs need to amount to......erm.....something.

    Roy, you've done us proud so far, but please just put Milner on the bench, or use him for cover for Parker when he's knackered after 60 mins

  • Comment posted by U14428279, at 16:09 21 Jun 2012

    The answer is simple. Wind him up and he will get himself sent off. Easy. Are you listening Roy?

  • Comment posted by U13425662, at 13:33 21 Jun 2012

    Am I the only one who wants to see Mario play the full game??... well part of the game due to him getting sent off!

    It would be a disaster for Italy if they started him. Far to volatile, and would feel he has a point to prove to the English players so they would find it very easy to wind him up
    very easy to wind him up

  • Comment posted by Freddie Roach Ate My Hamster, at 16:07 22 Jun 2012

    I must be old fashioned like Funeral Addict - I don't like to see cheating. Incidentally I find it embarrassing when our players dive (especially as they're obvious and terrible at it).

    Roy's team selections and tactics have worked as well as we could hope for thus far. I think that these teams pretty much cancel each other out. Unless there's a game costing mistake it's going to penalties.

  • Comment posted by U15315690, at 11:01 22 Jun 2012

    England have done OK up to now but can't seem to get the right balance of attack and defence in a game. What about moving Johnson up to R Wing with Jones filling in at R Back. Milner is no winger and this change would give us greater strength defensively with 2 R Backs playing and more attacking options as Johnson is good getting forward. Any thoughts?

  • Comment posted by Mark_Kernow, at 07:50 22 Jun 2012

    59. Funeral Addict
    @Newquay_Loyal
    You want Terry to bait Balotelli? I think you are a disgrace.

    Why, England must start to use the players to their best advantage, if winding an opponent works for others (Ronaldo - Rooney & Simeone - Beckham) then why should we not use such a tactic... or is it because it is JT and his upcoming Court Case ?

    Get stuck into the Italians, wind up Balotelli...WIN

  • Comment posted by WHL_N17, at 04:35 22 Jun 2012

    Josh
    We're 'idiots" if we think England aren't playing well? If every team played like England the game would die a slow excruciatingly painful death. Getting results does not necessarily equate to playing well.
    I'm with Paul 61, except Revie's Leeds played far better football than England do.
    Let's bore the opposition to death...

Top Stories