Mario Balotelli, recalled to the Italy national team for the tie against Croatia, will now miss his chance to impress new Azzurri manager Antonio Conte. The Liverpool forward withdrew from Italy's training camp with what appeared to be a minor hamstring strain.
Liverpool forward Mario Balotelli leaves Italy training with injury
The striker left the Azzurri training camp with a minor hamstring strain.
Claudio Villa/Getty Images
The Euro 2016 qualifier against Croatia, set for Sunday night, was to mark Balotelli's first inclusion in the national team since Conte took over as coach. Conte has said that players must earn the right to represent the Azzurri, rather than take it as their due. Yet in eight starts for Liverpool, Balotelli has yet to score a Premier League goal for his new side. Conte has a host of other strikers he can call upon, including Graziano Pellè, who's impressed for Southampton, and Stephan El Shaarawy, who finally broke his duck for Milan in the last round.
Liverpool, too, will likely make do. Reports from Italy suggest the injury is a minor one, but if that's not the case, the Reds do have Rickie Lambert and Fabio Borini. And a date at Crystal Palace, who are currently hovering just above the drop.
See More:
