10 Moments That Define Mario Balotelli's Career

5. Muscling Past The Germans

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97K7T92_AlY It's not hard to see why Germany were labelled as Spain's most competitive threat for the Euro 2012 trophy. Boasting an array of talent, they had breezed through the supposed 'Group of Death', dismantling the Portuguese, Dutch and Danish with relative ease before a 4-2 conquering of Greece in the quarter-finals. They could already see themselves lining up against the Spanish in a re-run of the Euro 2008 final. Which is why it all felt a bit flat when Mario Balotelli stuck two goals past a shell-shocked Manuel Neuer in the opening 36 minutes. Having quietened the Borussia Dortmund support in October with that last-minute penalty, this time he had silenced the nation, diverting Antonio Cassano's cross into the net before hammering home a thunderbolt into the top corner. Most 21 year olds would have spread-eagled, faces contorted with uncontrollable glee and excitement, having thundered his side into a two-goal cushion during a European Championships semi-final. In typical Mario fashion, however, he simply ripped off his shirt, before standing on the spot, tensing every muscle in his upper body with every fibre of his being. After all, the world was watching - this was no time to undo a sumptuous thunderbolt with a cringeworthy bout of giddiness. June 28 of 2012 was the finest afternoon of Balotelli's career in an international shirt, with the second goal characteristic of the man when on form. Most players would have buckled under the pressure, as the 21 year old had time to take some extra steps with only one German defender closing him down. Instead, he lashed it first-time into Manuel Neuer's up-right, and struck the iconic pose as if somebody was designing a calendar nearby.