Prandelli to confront Balotelli

Italy coach Cesare Prandelli plans to ask Mario Balotelli if his angry outburst after scoring in the 2-0 triumph over the Republic of Ireland on Monday was directed at him.

Prandelli did not to start the 21-year-old for the first time at the European Championship. The temperamental Manchester City forward came off the bench and scored his first goal in the tournament but rather than celebrate, he looked into the direction of the Italian bench and shouted a few words before team-mate Leonardo Bonucci put his hand over the striker's mouth.

"I don't know if Balotelli was upset with me, I will ask him," Prandelli said in Tuesday's press conference. "But from Bonucci's gesture you can see the team spirit in the group. Why didn't he (Balotelli) celebrate the goal? That has to be something spontaneous. Perhaps he is not able to express the joy he feels inside."

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