A touch of star quality from Mario Barwuah Balotelli plus a familiar mixture of experience and canny defending saw Italy quash a young Germany side 2-1 on Thursday and book a place in the Euro 2012 final against holders Spain.

The semi-final victory thanks to Balotellis first-half double extended Italys unbeaten run against Germany in major tournaments to eight games and Mesut Ozils late consolation penalty only disguised what was a comprehensive success.

Kwabena Barwuah was born in Palermo, Sicily, to Ghanaian immigrants Thomas and Rose Barwuah. The family moved to Bagnolo Mella in the province of Brescia, Lombardy, shortly after he was born.

As an infant, he had life-threatening complications with his intestines which led to a series of operations, although his condition had improved by 1992. Mario's health problems and the family's cramped living conditions meant the Barwuahs decided to ask for the help of social services who recommended that he be fostered.

In 1993, the Barwuah family agreed to entrust the three-year-old boy to Francesco and Silvia Balotelli, his new foster family from Concesio, Brescia, with the legal move formalized by the Court of Brescia.[8] When Mario Balotelli became famous, his biological parents asked for his return. He later accused them of "glory hunting", stating that they only wanted him back because of the prominence he had gained.

According to Law 91 of 5 February 1992, Balotelli had to wait until his 18th birthday to request Italian citizenship, as the Balotellis had not adopted him. Balotelli officially gained citizenship in Concesio on 13 August 2008.

Mario has three biological siblings: Abigail, Enoch and Angel Barwuah. Enoch Barwuah, two years his junior, had a trial at English Premier League side Stoke City in December 2011.