Super Mario or The Humble One: Balotelli claims he's no guarantee Italy would have reached the WC

Who is the last player to score for Italy in the World Cup game? Believe it or not, it was none other than Mario Balotelli in the final group stage game of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Huh, long time no see...

So once Azzurri had stumbled in the qualifiers for the upcoming WC, the media reached out for him to fire some of his trademark public shots. However, the new Super Mario emerged, supportive and sympathetic like never before. And all that after he was ignored by the Italian coach Roberto Mancini who didn't call him up for the playoffs and that North Macedonia tie which ended in despair for the favourites.

Sweet revenge! Balotelli scores a great goal against the manager who once called him 'brainless'

"The issue of player selection should not be a topic now. The World Cup is in December, and if we had qualified, there would have been an opportunity for me to go there. I was hoping to fight for a call by then. I lost a great chance," said the 31-year-old striker, currently featuring for Adanaspor in the Turkish Super Lig.

He's mellow, quiet, well-rounded, professional and emotionally stable - yes, that's Super Mario

Sincere and straightforward, Balotelli doesn't think that Italy would have a guarantee of success against Macedonia with him in the team.

"I'm doing well in front of the rival's goal, but that doesn't mean we would have won for sure if I had been in the team. Of course, we would have had a good chance of scoring.

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"I haven't heard from Mancini, but I am very happy that he stays in the dugout. I love him. People are disappointed and sad, but I can't forget that he made the team capable of winning the European Championship. However, the failure in the qualifications for Qatar is unexpected," concluded Balotelli.