Cesare Prandelli: 'Mario Balotelli must prove potential'

Italy coach Cesare Prandelli has told Mario Balotelli that he must be a team player if he wants to keep his place in the starting lineup.

The Azzurri opened their Euro 2012 campaign with a 1-1 draw against Spain last night, with Antonio Di Natale grabbing the goal after coming on to replace the 21-year-old.

Prandelli said that Balotelli, who had spurned a glorious opportunity to open the scoring, now has to prove his potential.

"Mario is 21 and he is in the process of maturing," said Prandelli. "All I ask him is to play a simple game without thinking of trying to resolve a game alone.

"He needs to think of giving depth to our game. He did a little bit of that against Spain. For the first time he has prove to everyone the potential that he is said to have and for sure he feels more responsibility."

Italy face Croatia on Thursday.