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Mario Balotelli deserves praise, not criticism, for taking penalty (ESPN article)

by Dave Usher for ESPN

 

"Why always me?" The phrase most synonymous with Mario Balotelli has never been more apt than it is right now, as he once again finds himself the subject of intense scrutiny following his match-winning penalty (taken from out of the hands of captain Jordan Henderson) against Besiktas on Thursday night.

 

Only the controversial, often misunderstood Italian could come off the bench, perform very well and score an 85th-minute winner in an important game, yet still find himself subject to such mudslinging and vilification.

 

Did he even do anything wrong? And more to the point, would this even be a story if club captain Steven Gerrard hadn't called him out on live national TV after the game?

 

If Balotelli had failed to convert from 12 yards, the widespread criticism he's received would have been more understandable. He didn't fail, though; he took on the responsibility of a high-pressure penalty kick, held his nerve and won the game for his team.

 

Yet instead of praise ringing in his ears, he's hearing criticism. Sometimes it feels like poor Mario can't do right for doing wrong.

 

In some ways it's reminiscent of the flak thrown his way earlier in the season when Real Madrid's Pepe asked him to swap shirts at half-time. Had that been any other player it would have been a nonstory. Because it was Mario, it was headline news.

 

Read the rest of the article here.


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