‘Balotelli must give 100 per cent’

Italy manager Cesare Prandelli has urged Mario Balotelli to keep his intensity levels high for the clash against Costa Rica today.

Balotelli scored the winner against England in his team’s first game but has had an erratic time for AC Milan as well as for the Azzurri.

Prandelli wants more consistency from his star front man.

“If we look at the four years that we have had with Mario, there have been times when he has been our weapon, he was the asset, he was the man who would have taken us to the moon,” Prandelli said. 

“But then, after two months, he wasn’t performing. Many thought that he would not even make it to the World Cup so what really matters is that he is concentrated and he is focused.

“It’s important for him to do what he did in the last match, to be as intense. 

“If he can do that for 90 minutes, great. Otherwise we will have someone just as good and just as fresh on the pitch. We started with 23 men and he is one of those 23 men. 

“He may be decisive, he may be important but, as in the last match, he must give 100 per cent.”

Balotelli himself was sat next to his manager during the press conference and was unusually understated.

“I’m experiencing this moment with great peace of mind,” he said.

“I don’t feel any pressure. I am tranquil. I’d like to go as far as possible at this World Cup and I hope to score as many as I can but the important thing is for the team to win and proceed. 

“I hope it’s not Mario’s World Cup but Italy’s World Cup. I don’t want to be the great star.” 

Ivory Coast’s Die plays despite death of father

The Ivory Coast midfielder Serey Die played the Group C match with Colombia on yesterday after being told that his father had died two hours before kick-off.

The 29-year-old was visibly emotional during the national anthem and was seen on the pitch being consoled by team-mates Serge Aurier and Didier Zokora.

Despite a late fightback from Ivory Coast, goals from James Rodríguez and Juan Fernando Quintero gave Colombia a 2-1 victory.