MX23RW : Thursday, November 28 09:21:34| >> :120:85692:85692:

Mario Balotelli leaves Confederations Cup with thigh injury

Italy send Balotelli home with injury
© AP Photos
Italy send Mario Balotelli home from the Confederations Cup with a thigh injury suffered against Brazil last weekend.

Italy striker Mario Balotelli has flown home from Brazil tonight after being ruled out of the Confederations Cup through injury.

Balotelli aggravated a muscle injury in his left thigh during Saturday's 4-2 defeat to the host nation, with Azzurri team doctors quick to rule the forward out of a semi-final against Spain.

Further tests on the problem carried out on Monday have revealed that Balotelli's injury is worse than first feared, and Italy coach Cesare Prandelli admitted that he had little choice but to send Balotelli home.

He is quoted by Football Italia as saying: "Balotelli was very disappointed, but there was no time for him to recover.

"In any case, there was no pressure from Milan on me or the Federation to bring him straight back to Italy.

"Without Mario we will have to try to work more on the collective."

The 22-year-old will return to AC Milan for further examination of the injury this week, forcing Prandelli to shuffle his squad ahead of Thursday's repeat of the European Championship final against La Roja.

ID:90533: cacheID:90533:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2343:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Italy's Mario Balotelli kicks the ball to score his team's second goal during the soccer Confederations Cup group A match between Mexico and Italy on June 16, 2013
Read Next:
Balotelli to miss Spain semi-final
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool1210112481631
2Manchester CityMan City127232217523
3Chelsea126422314922
4Arsenal126422112922
5Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton126422116522
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs1261527131419
7Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest125431513219
8Aston Villa125431919019
9Fulham125341717018
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle125341313018
11Brentford125252222017
12Manchester UnitedMan Utd124441313016
13Bournemouth124351617-115
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham124351519-415
15Everton122551017-711
16Leicester CityLeicester122461523-810
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves122372028-89
18Ipswich TownIpswich121651323-109
19Crystal Palace121561017-78
20Southampton121110924-154


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!