The Roma striker netted with only his second goal for the Azzurri after six minutes of the Group B clash.

That 1-0 scoreline was harsh on the Belgians, who made most of the running during the first half.

Filip de Wilde, who gifted Sweden their goal in the opening game, was called into action early on when he came to his side's aid with a fine double save.

First he denied Italian skipper Paolo Maldini, who had latched on to Antonio Conte's deep cross, before he scooped away Filippo Inzaghi's from the rebound.

However de Wilde was beaten in the sixth minute when Totti powered home a header from six yards out from a curling free-kick from Demetrio Albertini.

Back came Belgium and Bart Goor rattled Francesco Toldo's crossbar with a thunderous drive, which had the Italian goalkeeper beaten.

The Euro 2000 co-hosts kept up the pressure and Emile Mpenza turned and fired in a shot which was saved by Toldo.

The Belgians continued to huff and puff and Mpenza won a corner after his shot came off Fabio Cannavaro.

Toldo saved Marc Wilmots' header from the corner and a minute later the Fiorentina goalkeeper rushed off his line and spread himself well to make a fine block to deny the same player.

The Italians then appealed in vain for a penalty for handball against Yves Vanderhaeghe and seconds later the Belgian midfielder had a drive blocked at the other end.

The Red Devils kept up the pressure for an equaliser and Branko Strupar's 25-yard free-kick came off the Italian wall and spun just over Toldo's bar.

Nico van Kerckhoven tried his luck with a long-range drive but his effort went well wide of Toldo's left-hand post. Vanderhaeghe then let fly with a drive which Toldo saved comfortably.

The chances continued to come and go for Belgium and Gert Verheyen shot weakly when he should have passed, before Toldo smothered Goor's curling free-kick on his line.

The Italians managed to work the ball out of their own half and Inzaghi directed a tame effort at de Wilde from Conte's cross.

Wilmots then shot straight at Toldo before Belgium made the first substitution when Marc Hendrikx replaced the injured van Kerckhoven a minute before the interval.