Abate makes his Euro 2012 bid

Milan fullback Ignazio Abate has used the term ‘beautiful’ to describe his debut for the Azzurri in their 2-0 win over Poland in Friday.

“It was beautiful to start, and we had a good game,” Abate told Rai Sport after the game. “Poland pressed high in the first half, but we hit them at the right time.”

Italy coach Cesare Prandelli gave Abate a starting berth and the Milanista played out the entire 90 minutes of the match in Wroclaw.

For us Milan fans it was beautiful for us too to see Abate make his long awaited and rather overdue international bow.

By no means the man of the match, he did grow into the game after shaking off his early matches nerves. But, this is normal and Prandelli will be aware of this.

Abate is aiming to make the squad for the European championships next summer and why should he not be. He plays for the best team in the country, is one of the first names on the teamsheet week in week out and is still only 24-years-old. He can only get better.

“The team was very balanced, we defended well enough,” he continued. “I always try to do my best, and if the coach gives me the opportunity to do so, I would be happy to wear this shirt at the European Championship.”

I really hope he gets another chance against Uruguay on Tuesday, though, to be fair Prandelli will probably start him from the bench.

On a related topic, the day that Zlatan Ibrahimovic leaves Milan is the day we should sign Mario Balotelli. His goal was superb, he played a part in the second and he was a class throughout the contest.

It is clear now that without Antonio Cassano and Giuseppe Rossi much of the responsibility in attack rests upon the shoulders of the temperamental Manchester City striker and, I believe, he is well up to the task.

Here is the wonder goal from our future number 45.