Euro 2012: Cesare Prandelli Is Crazy to Include Mario Balotelli in His Lineup

"Flawed genius" is a term seldom used when it comes to football. If your lucky, their may be one such personality in each generation.

The most high-profile case is undoubtedly George Best, while Paul Gascoigne is the most recent example.

Italy and Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli is often adorned with term. Do his many eccentricities and tantrums make him flawed, but genius?

I, like many, am not too sure.

Troubles

The 21-year-old is undoubtedly a talented footballer, but his many troubles make you wonder why people are prepared to give him chances.

After falling out with Jose Mourinho at Inter Milan, he made his way to the Premier League to link up with old manager Roberto Mancini.

What has followed is a series of bizarre headlines over a two-year period that simply left you scratching your head.

He was pulled over by police and was found to have a large quantity of cash in his possession. He also threw a dart at youth-teamers.

We can't forget his in-house firework display and his gate crashing a press conference back at his old club earlier this year.

This negativity far outweighs the positives that came from him giving a homeless man £1,000, donating hundreds in church and buying a round for an entire pub.

It was, however, on the pitch that his most high-profile meltdown occurred.

In a Premier League game with Sunderland, Balotelli had a very public confrontation with Aleksandar Kolarov on who should take a free kick.

And this is after Mancini had declared he can no longer trust the striker.

A level head and common sense seem foreign to the Italian striker—two huge reasons why Cesare Prandelli should forget him if he wants success for his nation this summer.

Liability

In yesterday's encounter with Spain, the Italians impressed many by taking the game to Vicente Del Bosque’s men and not rolling over like many expected.

Balotelli, though, was one major disappointment.

His first-half hissy fit after failing to win the ball—when he punched the floor like a petulant child and got booked not long after—was followed up in the second half with very lazy play.

After robbing Sergio Ramos of the ball, he darted toward goal in plenty of space. With time he had, he could have placed his shot or squared to a teammate.

Instead, he dazed on the ball, allowing the Real Madrid defender to come back and rectify his mistake.

The biggest reason he should not be on the pitch, though, lies with the man who replaced him yesterday.

Antonio Di Natale is in the form of his life. At 34 years of age, he shows little sign of slowing down.

He smashed a staggering 23 goals in 36 Serie A games for Udinese. He also bagged Italy's lone goal in the opener of Euro 2012.

Dropping Balotelli simply has to be done if Prandelli wants success in his side’s next two games against Croatia and the Republic of Ireland.