Mario Balotelli, One of Soccer’s Most Gifted and Eccentric Players




KIEV, Ukraine — The long diagonal pass floated across midfield, its accuracy all the more remarkable for its distance. Waiting with impeccable timing was Mario Balotelli of Italy, one of soccer’s most gifted and eccentric players. He sprinted past the German defense and turned to meet the ball, nimbly switching directions, backpedaling with the gliding agility of a man on skates.


The Germans gave chase, but it was desperate and futile. Already they must have known they would arrive too late. Thirty-five yards from goal, maybe 40, Balotelli let the ball bounce and tap his chest. And he was off again, racing, touching the ball once with his left foot, reaching the edge of the penalty area, the German captain Philipp Lahm in furious and vain pursuit.


Earlier in this semifinal of the European Championships, played Thursday in Warsaw, the 6-foot-2 Balotelli had put Italy ahead, 1-0, with a vaulting header. The narrow stripe of his Mohawk seemed to point to the sweet spot on his forehead as a cross curled in from the flank. The German goalkeeper, Manuel Neuer, moved to his left, but the ball went the other way, beyond his outstretched right hand, and Neuer tossed his water bottle in frustration.


Now Neuer was exposed again, flat-footed, as Balotelli dashed at him. He shot with such power and slicing accuracy that the ball kept rising and swerving until it punched like a fist into the upper right corner of the net. Italy 2, Germany 0. Television cameras caught Joachim Löw, the German coach, picking his fingernails. His team’s chances, probably like his nails, were down to the quick.


Neuer grabbed his water bottle and clapped his hands. Perhaps it was to restore himself. Or to acknowledge Balotelli’s rapacious determination. Or to give consolation to his teammates, who had been favorites at this tournament but whose exit now seemed as inevitable as it was premature.


Balotelli kept running and removed his azure jersey and finally stopped, flexing his tattooed and chiseled arms and torso. Athletic tape fanned across his lower back like slats of an Adirondack chair. He remained unsmiling, his stare defiant, as a teammate ran up to hug him in celebration.


Nearly two-thirds of the match remained, however. Italy’s eventual 2-1 victory was not yet secured. A player is not permitted to remove his jersey, so Balotelli received a yellow-card warning for his preening celebration. One more excessive act — and there have been many in Balotelli’s mercurial career — and he would have risked a second yellow card and automatic suspension for Sunday’s final here against Spain.


When a muscle cramp later seized Balotelli’s left leg, Italy’s coaches did not appear to consider this unfortunate. He left the semifinal with 20 minutes remaining, his artistic temperament not having undermined his artistic talent. Balotelli will no doubt return to the lineup Sunday, providing Italy with something that Spain does not seem to have at the moment: a classic center forward to run at a defense with speed and strength and resolve and precision.


With three goals, Balotelli has scored more than anyone still playing at Euro 2012. One of two Italian players of African descent, he has endured racial abuse, monkey chants from Spanish fans, then more taunting chants from Croatian fans and a banana tossed onto the field. Sometimes, Balotelli has been hesitant at critical moments — thinking instead of just playing. Some thought him too volatile to be put on the Italian team in the first place. But at 21, he has persisted, and his team is one victory from becoming the champion of Europe.


“This is the greatest night of my life,” Balotelli said Thursday, “but I hope Sunday is going to be even better.”


Which Balotelli will show up against Spain? The one who scored twice against Germany? The one who seemed reluctant to shoot on a clear chance in the earlier match against Spain?