Game for a laugh: Balotelli was all smiles during Wednesday's session and later signed autographs for local children

Sunday's match has been billed by the Italian media as the battle of the bad boys, with Balotelli squaring off against England star Wayne Rooney.

Balotelli's Manchester City team-mate Joe Hart said: 'A lot gets made of their off-the-field activities. But I think if the media took an interest in any one of our lives like they did theirs then they'd find interesting things about anyone. They just happen to be the people that people pick on.

'Wayne's a fantastic footballer and, obviously, I've worked closely with Mario and I think he's an exceptional footballer, too. It will be good for everyone to watch those two players doing their thing on Sunday.

However, while Rooney looks certain to start for England, Balotelli's role is unclear after he was dropped for Italy's final Group C game against Republic of Ireland, only to come off the bench and score a typically impudent goal.

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