Maturing Balotelli puts side before self

Mario Balotelli would happily sacrifice his shot at the Golden Boot prize if it meant Italy won Euro 2012.

Much has been made of Cristiano Ronaldo's failure to take a penalty during Portugal's shoot-out defeat to Spain on Wednesday amid claims the former Manchester United man wished to take the last kick because it offered more personal glory.

At the start of the tournament, it would have been easy to imagine Balotelli taking a similar stance. But throughout Italy's run to the final against Spain, the 21-year-old has acted with a rare maturity, and he said: "If we win and I score, it will be amazing. If I don't score and we win it will still be amazing."

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