Soccer Euro 2012 Germany Italy
Italy's Mario Balotelli, right, is greeted by teammate Italy's Daniele De Rossi after scoring his scond goal during the Euro 2012 soccer championship...
Italy's Mario Balotelli, right, is greeted by teammate Italy's Daniele De Rossi after scoring his scond goal during the Euro 2012 soccer championship semifinal match between Germany and Italy in Warsaw, Poland, Thursday, June 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Soccer Euro 2012 Germany Italy
Germany's Mesut Oezil, left, and Italy's Mario Balotelli challenge for the ball during the Euro 2012 soccer championship semifinal match between Germ...
Germany's Mesut Oezil, left, and Italy's Mario Balotelli challenge for the ball during the Euro 2012 soccer championship semifinal match between Germany and Italy in Warsaw, Poland, Thursday, June 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
Soccer Euro 2012 Germany Italy
Italy's Mario Balotelli, center, celebrates his second goal during the Euro 2012 soccer championship semifinal match between Germany and Italy in War...
Italy's Mario Balotelli, center, celebrates his second goal during the Euro 2012 soccer championship semifinal match between Germany and Italy in Warsaw, Poland, Thursday, June 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
APTOPIX Soccer Euro 2012 Germany Italy
Italy's Mario Balotelli celebrates with teammates after scoring their second goal during the Euro 2012 soccer championship semifinal match between Ge...
Italy's Mario Balotelli celebrates with teammates after scoring their second goal during the Euro 2012 soccer championship semifinal match between Germany and Italy in Warsaw, Poland, Thursday, June 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)
A spectacular goal followed by a shirtless show of defiance to the world at the European Championship. It could only be Mario Balotelli.
The sequence of events in Italy's 2-1 semifinal victory over Germany on Thursday summed up everything about the mercurial striker _ hugely talented, and highly volatile.
Having just scored his second goal of the night, Balotelli tore off his Italy jersey and stood motionless as his teammates ran to congratulate him _ closely followed by the referee to book him for the gesture.
His explanation for the impressive show of tattooed muscle was also typical Balotelli.
Balotelli says "if anyone is angry for my celebration, it's because they saw my physique and they're jealous."
