Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli is eager to break back into the Italy squad.

Balotelli was left out by boss Cesare Prandelli as punishment for his dismissal in January's game against Tottenham.

"The European Championship is something that I think about often," he stated after Italy lost 1-0 to the USA without him.

"I was disappointed to have not been called up for the friendly in Genoa. There is a code of ethics that I respect, even if I think that I didn't deserve to be excluded.

"It left me upset because, for me, there is no shirt more fascinating than that of the national side because of the emotions that I feel when I represent Italy."