The Inter Milan star popped up to head the second goal of his international career, six minutes before half-time, after Fredrik Ljungberg and Magnus Svensson had squandered golden chances to put the Swedes in front.

Alessandro del Piero, starting his first game of Euro 2000, fired a sharp chance wide in the fourth minute but Italy, already guaranteed top spot in Group B, found themselves under early pressure in Eindhoven.

Angelo di Livio reacted quickly to clear Johan Mjallby's header from the line after Ljungberg's corner and Mark Iuliano made a lunging last-gasp tackle to block Yksel Osmanovski's shot.

Ljungberg should have put the Swedes ahead in the 14th minute, however, when he wriggled through a crowded penalty area to find himself with only Francesco Toldo to beat.

The Arsenal midfielder waited for the keeper's dive but then sliced his left-foot effort horribly wide from five yards.

Vincenzo Montella, given his first taste of Euro 2000, displayed his silky footwork in the 18th minute, dancing past the Swedish back line and forcing a fine reflex save from Magnus Hedman.

The Roma striker was less impressive a minute later when he curled a free-kick hopelessly off target after a foul on Massimo Ambrosini.

A ricochet fell kindly for Svensson on the edge of the Italian box. The Brondby midfielder darted towards goal only to see his close-range shot cannon to safety off the huge frame of Toldo.

Del Piero threaded a pass to Montella in the 27th minute. Montella held off the challenge of Tomas Gustafsson and lobbed the ball over the advancing Hedman from a tight angle - but his attempt dropped on to the roof of the net.

Svensson fired wide from 25 yards and Toldo produced another fine save at full-stretch to smother a cross-shot from Osmanovski, who had broken clear down the Sweden right.

But, after all their pressure, the Swedes conceded a soft goal from a 39th-minute corner.

Del Piero won the corner as he tried unsuccessfully to trick his way past Olof Mellberg on the right.

He took the set-piece himself, curling the ball to the near post where di Biagio rose unattended to nod the ball into the net from point-blank range.

Italy captain Paolo Maldini limped off before half-time. He had needed treatment afetr a collision with Henrik Larsson earlier in the half and was replaced by Alessandro Nesta.