PHONKMEISTER

So, Balotelli’s two goals last night exposed the contradictions of the racist chants against him. Did the racists sit in their seats and look glum, as the goals went in? No, of course they didn’t. They partied just like everyone else. Those two goals have taken on immense symbolic power. They are a sign that black Italians are here to stay, and this is something that a strong minority of Italians find very difficult to accept.

—Mario Balotelli as a black Italian national hero? Long may it last | John Foot | Comment is free | guardian.co.uk