Euro 2012: James Milner wary of Mario Balotelli threat

Last updated on .From the section Euro 2012
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.

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."
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The commitment of the players, the tactical nous of the manager and the support being given is really great..
Good luck all the same though England, you work hard, you reap the rewards.
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.
Can you imagine the English media foaming at the mouth if Johnny Foreigner did that?
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
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
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.
@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
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...