After a bright opening, when play swung from end to end, the game became congested in midfield and tempers began to fray. France arrived in Rotterdam determined to become the second country in history to hold both the World and European titles.

West Germany conquered Europe in 1972 and the world two years later and Roger Lemerre's multi-talented squad were out to match the feat. In their way stood Italy, a country steeped in footballing traditions and unbeaten in Euro 2000.

It was Italy's seventh major final but only their second time in the European Championships final. Dino Zoff was the keeper in 1968 when they won on home soil. France have never won a trophy outside Paris, where they lifted the European Championships in 1984 and the World Cup in 1998.

Lemerre reverted to the team who beat Spain in the quarter final. That meant no place for Emmanuel Petit, suffering from a fever in the run-up to the game.

Youri Djorkaeff and Christophe Dugarry returned to the starting line-up but Nicolas Anelka was on the bench.

Zoff plumped for a Roman strike-force. Alessandro del Piero and Filippo Inzaghi, who started the semi-final against Holland, were dropped in favour of Roma's Marco Delvecchio and Francesco Totti.

Gianluca Pessotto came in for the suspended Gianluca Zambrotta, Demetrio Albertini won his personal fitness battle to start in midfield and Paolo Maldini won his 11th cap, taking him within one of Zoff's Italian record.

An explosion of Thierry Henry pace gave the Italians an early warning. The Arsenal flyer sped down the left onto a Djorkaeff pass and skipped round Alessandro Nesta but couldn't find Djorkaeff in front of goal.

Fabien Barthez dashed out of his area to deny Delvecchio and Totti should have done better with a header after stealing ahead of Henry to meet Stefano Fiore's corner.

A tame cross-shot from Henry was allowed to bounce of the post by Francesco Toldo, who almost marred a superb personal tournament with a blatant misjudgment, in the sixth minute of final.

Italy were able to clear the danger, however, and Delvecchio showed great athleticism to reach Fiore's right-wing cross, two minutes later, but couldn't keep his shot down.

Albertini swerved a free-kick over Barthez's bar after a foul on Totti but France started to enjoy more possession in midfield as the game settled into its rhythm.

Fabio Cannavaro charged down a Zinedine Zidane shot, Didier Deschamps rifled over from 25 yards and Mark Iuliano blocked an effort by Dugarry.

Toldo almost ran into more problems dealing with a Djorkaeff corner. The keeper jumped with Marcel Desailly but could only direct his punch into the Chelsea man and was lucky to see the ball roll harmlessly wide.

Barthez tried to spice up a game which had fallen flat by trying to chip Toldo from his own half. The big Italian keeper stepped back and controlled it on his chest.

Djorkaeff's snap-shot, in the 39th minute, was a sterner test. The midfielder controlled a miscued shot from Henry, spun quickly and toe-poked the ball at goal but Toldo lowered his big frame to smother.

Tempers threatened to bubble over as Zidane flashed a free-kick over the bar. Cannavaro, booked for felling Henry in full flight, was on the receiving end of an elbow in the face from Desailly as the pair tussled in the goalmouth.