Nesta beats Hakan Sukur to the ball (GChadwick/Allsport)

Dino Zoff's side went into the competition on the back of some poor performances, including a 1-0 defeat by Norway, but they showed no signs of maintaining that run as they opened the match in determined mood.

Although they could not find a way through in the opening 45 minutes, a spectacular goal from Antionio Conte and a hotly-disputed penalty from Filippo Inzaghi secured victory.

Turkey included five members of Galatasaray's UEFA Cup winning side in their starting eleven, while Zoff chose to leave Alessandro del Piero on the bench and begin the match with Francesco Totti partnering Inzaghi in attack.

In stark contrast to recent displays, the Italians came out flying, forcing a succession of corners in the opening minutes.

The first clear-cut chance of the game came after just five minutes when Stefano Fiore found Conte just inside the penalty area.

His shot brushed the outside of the post, but would not have counted anyway as he was adjudged marginally offside.

With Turkish keeper Rustu Recber looking less than comfortable dealing with crosses, the Italians continued to press forward.

However it was not all Italy and Sergen Yalchin reminded them that there were two sides in this match when he fired an angled-drive just wide from the edge of the box.

But on 17 minutes, Inzaghi produced an early contender for miss of the tournament.

Skipper Paolo Maldini saw his free-kick charged down and as the ball returned to him off the wall, he produced an exquisite pass to find the impressive Fiore in space down the right.

The Udinese midfielder took his time to pick out Inzaghi in the six-yard box, but although the Juventus striker got up between the defenders, he somehow managed to send his header wide with the goal at his mercy.

Hakan Sukur, whose goals helped sink Leeds United in the UEFA Cup, showed plenty of movement up front for Turkey but was not rewarded with the service in the final third.

However, the Turks were beginning to settle into a rhythm and enjoyed the lion's share of possession in midfield as the tempo dropped following a frantic opening 20 minutes.

Italy continued to look for Inzaghi down the channels, but he was well marshalled by the impressive Alpay Ozalan of Fenerbache.

Just before the interval, Recber could count himself lucky not to be punished when yet again he came off his line for a corner but got nowhere near the ball as it flew across the goalline.

After a rather dull start to the second period, the game finally produced the goal that it had been craving seven minutes after the restart.

Inzaghi was again at the centre of the action as he fed the ball out to Fiore on the right.

His centre was blocked by Alpay, and Conte was in the right place at the right time to steer the ball into the net with a spectacular overhead kick.

The goal seemed to settle the Italians, and Ginaluca Zambrotta almost doubled his side's lead with a dipping effort from 25 yards after cutting in from the right.

Alpay, who moments before the goal had forced a good stop from Francesco Toldo down low to his left, almost put the Turks level a minute later, but his header was wide of the mark.

Yet it was very close to being 2-0 on 57 minutes when Recber was again exposed with a deep cross.

Totti sent his header crashing against the bar, and Inzaghi could not get enough pace on the rebound to beat Ogun Temizkanoglu on the line.

That missed opportunity was soon punished as the Turks drew level on the hour with a goal which will leave Zoff asking questions of his defence.

A free-kick was whipped into the danger area from the right, and Okan Buruk - one of the smallest players on the pitch - got up to nod the ball into an empty net with Toldo stranded in no-man's land.

Italy immediately went on the offensive and Recber produced a good save to deny Inzaghi after he had been once again found by the impressive distribution skills of Fiore.

However it took a moment of controversy to put the Italians back in front.

Inzaghi was again in the thick of the action as he chased a hopeful ball into the area, shadowed by Temizkanoglu.

The Juve frontman went down under the challenge and Scottish referee Hugh Dallas immediately pointed to the spot.

Inzaghi showed everyone how to execute the perfect penalty as he restored his side's advantage with a thumping low drive into the bottom left corner.

There was rousing applause from the Italian contingent in the 30,000 crowd when del Peiro replaced Fiore and the Juventus hitman almost made an instant impact when he rattled the underside of the crossbar with a curling free-kick from some 30 yards.

However the Turks were not giving up the match just yet and Italy were forced to scramble the ball away after Okan had capitalised on a mistake by Parma defender Fabio Cannavaro and Abdullah Ercan saw his effort clawed away by Toldo.

Inzaghi - who could easily have finished the game with a hat-trick - missed a wonderful chance to ease the pressure when he dragged the ball wide of the far post from 15 yards with just ten minutes left on the clock.

However there was still time for del Piero to have an effort hacked off the line and substitute Angelo di Livio had a goal ruled out for offside before the final whistle.

The result moved Italy to the top of the qualifying group alongside Belgium, whom they meet in Brussels on Wednesday.