EURO 2012 is gearing up for one of the most explosive match-ups of the tournament so far: Wayne Rooney v Mario Balotelli.
In the blue corner it’s Italian striker Balo, whose petulance is rivalled only by his talent.
And in the white corner is Rooney, who the nation prays has curbed his red-mist temper.
Italy has been lapping up the prospect of the two going head-to-head since England emerged as shock winners of Group D ahead of fancied France.
Headlines in top-selling Gazzetta Dello Sport roared: ‘We’ve got Rooney’.
And La Repubblica labelled Sunday’s match a ‘battle between bad boys’ adding that ‘double-souled Balotelli would be able to take on his ‘own’ English’ and it was an ‘appointment with Rooney and history.’
But last night Balotelli was warned to grow up by Italian team-mate Daniele De Rossi.
The Manchester City star faces England on Sunday and Roma star De Rossi admits the 21-year-old has a suspect temperament.
De Rossi, 28, said: “If Balotelli wants to grow, he must learn how to react to provocation and situations that he finds difficult.
“There is a lot of talk and scandal around him because he’s young, strong-headed, plays for a big club and has a lot of talent. But he is used to these scandals.
“He makes mistakes on and off the pitch. And it is his responsibility to rectify them.
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