England vs. Italy: Mario Balotelli Will Be the X-Factor in Massive Matchup

Italy's hopes in Euro 2012 rest on the shoulders of Mario Balotelli, and they should be absolutely terrified because of it.

The volatile striker is as unpredictable as they come, scoring wonder goals one day and admitting to having a fling with Wayne Rooney's call girl the next.

There's no denying that the 21-year-old is insanely talented. You don't score 13 goals in 14 English Premier League appearances if you don't bleed class, and goals like this, this and this speak to his unbelievable skill level.

He can take over a match by himself, shredding opposing back lines and terrorizing goalkeepers. He's often unstoppable with the ball at his feet, as his speed, dazzling touch and incredible power make him one of the most dangerous strikers in the world.

The Italians will need him at his best in the quarterfinals, when they take on a quality English side. England's defense, led by the reliable John Terry, is one of the best in the tournament. They surrendered just three goals in the group stage, and if Italy is going to beat them, they will need Balotelli to be focused and under control.

Of course, trusting Balotelli to be levelheaded is like trusting a thief with your wallet. 

Balotelli has been known to to make headlines in the most bizarre ways possible, from throwing darts at youth players, to crashing his car in the Manchester City Centre, to lighting off fireworks in his own bathroom just hours before an important game.

His reckless streak often shows up on the pitch as well, like when he was sent off in a pivotal match against Arsenal and when he stomped on the head of Tottenham defender Scott Parker.

If Balotelli's violent side manifests on Sunday, Italy will go down in flames. Daniele De Rossi has already told him to grow up, and the Italians have made it clear that they will have no tolerance for his immaturity.

Unfortunately, their offense is reliant on his goal-scoring ability. Nobody can put the ball in the net quite like Balotelli, and against England's staunch defense, they have little hope of prevailing if he's not on the pitch.

It's quite the quandary for manager Cesare Prandelli: play Balotelli and hope he doesn't do something stupid, or sit him and pray that somebody else can foil England's defense.

Regardless of what he decides, and regardless of how Balotelli performs, the unpredictable striker will certainly hold the key to Sunday's match. And as odd as it may sound, both sides should be very worried.