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Milan – Italy coach Roberto Mancini said yesterday he overlooked Mario Balotelli for upcoming Euro 2020 qualifiers because the Marseille player lacked fitness.

Italy begin their campaign to reach the European finals playing Finland on Saturday in Udine after they failed to qualify for the World Cup last year for the first time in 60 years.

Balotelli’s positive start at Marseille with five goals in seven starts has not convinced Mancini, nor has the performance of Andrea Belotti, 25, who has scored ten league goals for Torino.

“Mario is not yet in optimal condition to play for the national team,” Mancini.

“He has improved physically compared to September but can still improve. From him I expect a lot, he’s nearly 29 years-old, he’s at his peak, and for the national team he must give the maximum.”

Italy also play Liechtenstein in Parma on March 26.

“The beauty of the national team is that everyone can express their opinion,” said former Manchester City coach of his decision to overlook the two forwards.

“I make my choices, Belotti is like the others who have stayed at home this time, he can do much better and return to the national team. He is young, he is improving in the league, he will surely be able to come back.”

Veteran striker Fabio Quagliarella was recalled at 36 years as he leads the Serie A goal scorers chart with 21 efforts in 28 games.

The group also includes promising youngsters Roma midfielder Nicolo Zaniolo and Juventus striker Moise Kean, both aged 19.

“I called up a few more players because I didn’t really know everyone’s condition and wanted to get to know them and evaluate them better,” continued Mancini.

“We called up a few more strikers because we have to work in this sense. I’m sorry for those who were left out.

“We have young players who are improving. We thank (Under-21 coach Luigi) Di Biagio because we took several of his players for the European Championship away from him.

“Zaniolo can surely debut for us. Kean? Moise has won so much for his age. Let’s hope he starts like Balotelli did, which is very good.

“I’m confident. Our games coming up project us towards the European Championship, so we must do well in them.

“We have lots of good players, now the bar needs raising. Jorginho is playing well.

“Chelsea are having problems, but he’s missed hardly any matches. The same goes for (Marco) Verratti.”

Italy have won the European championship just once in 1968 and were runners-up in 2000 and 2012.

Meanwhile, Didier Deschamps expects unfancied Moldova to make life difficult for world champions France when they begin Euro 2020 qualifying in Chisinau on Friday.

France, who finished second to the Netherlands in their Uefa Nations League section, will be heavily favoured to finish top of Group H which also includes Iceland, Turkey, Albania and Andorra.

“You must be wary, there’s no ideal match. We know very well it will largely depend on us, but this Moldova side will try their luck at home,” Deschamps said on Monday.

Moldova are ranked 170th in the world and haven’t won a competitive match – other than a pair Nations League victories over San Marino last year – since 2013.

“There probably won’t be much space. We’ve already come up against these type of situations and they’re not the easiest. You get by with accuracy, movement and by mixing things up.” 

“It’s never easy but we know what to expect,” he added.

Bayern Munich winger Kingsley Coman is back in the France squad for the first time since November 2017 following a raft of injury problems.

“He had a serious injury, and a succession of injuries which slowed him down,” said Deschamps. “He’s been an important player for Bayern Munich  this season.”

Coman played six of seven matches, including 62 minutes of the final, as France finished runners-up to Portugal on home soil at Euro 2016.

However, the 22-year-old has featured just four times for his country since the 1-0 extra-time defeat at the Stade de France.

“He was unlucky ahead of the World Cup because he had this serious injury, but it’s been a while since Kingsley has been with us.

“He proved at Euro 2016 what he is capable of doing.”

France will then host Iceland on March 25 in Paris in a repeat of their Euro 2016 quarter-final, which Les Bleus won 5-2.

– AFP.