Norway continued their happy habit of beating major international teams after a second-half John Carew goal defeated Italy 1-0 in Oslo.

Italy's defeat was another blow to embattled manager Dino Zoff, who still has to find his right team and formation with no more games left before Euro 2000.

Carew, due to join Valencia this summer, outjumped Fabio Cannavaro to head Vegard Heggem's cross past Gianluigi Buffon on 53 minutes.

Carew played alongside Tore Andre Flo and Ole Gunnar Solksjaer and his third goal in 13 international appearances may well have sealed his place in Nils Semb's starting line-up against Spain on June 13.

Premiership stars Flo and Leeds midfielder Eirik Bakke both impressed.

Italy had changed their formation to 4-4-2 after a recent experiment with the AC Milan-style 4-3-3 formation but Stefano Fiore failed in his quest to make the playmaker's spot his own and was substituted for Alessandro Del Piero in the second half.

A fine performance by Everton misfit Thomas Myhre should see him steal the goalkeepers' spot from Frode Olsen.