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Middle man: Balotelli is always centre of attention

Balotelli may have been unwilling to explain his behaviour following the glorious second goal that ultimately finished Germany's Euro 2012 challenge but what is clear is that a 21-year-old footballer, Ghanaian by ethnicity but Italian by birth and adopted by white Italian parents, is ushering in a new era for the Azzurri at the European Championship.

Seasoned Italian correspondents cannot remember a black Italian ever having had such an impact on the nation's popular culture. For while Andrea Pirlo is the outfield leader of this entertaining team and goalkeeper and captain Gianluigi Buffon the vocal driving force, its vitality and future is represented by Balotelli.

Cesare Prandelli, the man who has guided what many considered a mediocre team to the brink of a glorious victory in today's final against Spain in Kiev, is now reaping the rewards of investing so much faith in a player who might have been considered too volatile to integrate into a squad playing tournament football.

The coach praises the job Roberto Mancini has done with Balotelli at Manchester City, but his compatriot had been reduced to declaring the striker 'finished' after his red card against Arsenal as recently as April.

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