It's Mario, again

Italy striker's latest comments will be music to the ears of the English players.

Mario Balotelli does what he wants, as the popular football chant goes.

But, in the latest episode of the Italian striker's long-running series of wisecracks, his words may come back to bite him hard.

England no match for Italy?

Whatever he's on, Balotelli is setting himself up for an embarrassing own goal.

Obviously, he's entitled to his opinion, but football is littered with examples of players and managers being left with egg on their faces after being proven wrong.

England kick off their 2014 World Cup campaign against Italy in Manaus, Brazil, on June 14.

Roy Hodgson could well be writing Balotelli a thank-you card for helping him motivate his English troops ahead of the clash.

In a recent interview, Balotelli told the Daily Mail: "I don't look at England as a team that can win the World Cup.

"They have some good players, but they are no real rivals for Italy."

Balotelli has every right to feel confident.

He was part of the Italy side that beat England in a Euro 2012 quarter-final match on penalties, en route to the final where they lost to Spain.

But to dismiss England's chances so emphatically sounds like a suicide plan.

The Three Lions go into the World Cup with little pressure.

Among those Hodgson will take with him to Brazil are a new generation of English stars who don't carry the baggage of previous international failure.

NO PRESSURE

And unlike their predecessors, who usually entered World Cups and European Championships believing the hype claiming they were contenders, this group led by Steven Gerrard have been written off.

And they are as enterprising a line-up as any England have seen since Euro 2004.

The refreshing success of Liverpool, Everton and Southampton, all of whom earned plaudits for their swashbuckling football last season, bodes well for the national team.

Hodgson's England have hungry young talent and speed merchants in attack who can terrify the best defenders, including Italy's uncompromising backline.

Hodgson has picked 11 players from the two Merseyside sides and the Saints in his squad of 23 - Glen Johnson, Raheem Sterling, Gerrard, Jordan Henderson, Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool); Leighton Baines, Phil Jagielka, Ross Barkley (Everton); Luke Shaw, Adam Lallana, Rickie Lambert (Southampton).

Many believe more than half of England's starting 11 will come from this group of players.

The form of midfielders Barkley and Sterling, in particular, could give England's attack an edge that could make them dangerous.

Jagielka and Chelsea's Gary Cahill form a reliable central defensive partnership, while at the other end, the combination of Sturridge and Wayne Rooney is a mouth-watering prospect.

With the likes of Frank Lampard, James Milner, Gerrard and Rooney to provide guidance, Hodgson does have a very competitive side.

This World Cup may have come too soon for this England team to lift the trophy.

But they definitely have the quality to give any team a tough test.

Come June 14, Balotelli may be in for a surprise. His remarks were unnecessary and silly, and it has provided the best motivational tool for Hodgson.

I can just imagine Balotelli's quotes being repeated time and again by the English before their Italy opener.

But then again, this is Balotelli, so no one is ever surprised.

This article was first published on May 31, 2014.
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