By Chris Wright
Last night’s World Cup qualifier between Italy and Czech Republic finished in a pretty drab (fun fact: Italy didn’t manage a single shot on target) goalless stalemate, but not before Mario Balotelli got himself sent-off 18 minutes from time after picking up two yellow cards in the space of four minutes.
Having been booked for buffeting over Michael Kadlec, Balotelli was almost immediately shown his second yellow of the evening for an innocuous-looking tangle with Theodor Gebre Selassie in the Czech box – with both “offences” barely worthy of a caution between them.
Mario, as is his wont, then took out him frustration by pummeling several shades of scheisse out of the tunnel on his way back to the dressing room…
Thanks to the point accrued, Italy are now four points clear of Bulgaria at the top of Group B.