Good lad: Balotelli has caused no trouble for coach Cesare Prandelli (right) this week

Buffon added: ‘He is 22 and players at that age can commit mistakes, but the important thing is to learn.’

Italy go into the Spain contest rocked by a corruption scandal which has already seen one of their players under investigation, Domenico Criscito, withdrawn from the squad.

With their last warm-up game ending in a 3-0 defeat against Russia and Prandelli forced to try Roma midfielder Daniele de Rossi in defence because of injuries, Buffon admits Italy will have to upset the odds to get anything from the world champions.

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