The victory gives Italy their fourth European Under-21 Championship title in eight years but Marco Tardelli's side had to survive some intense pressure from an excellent Czech side in an evenly balanced match.

Right from the start it was clear why these teams had reached the final of the competition, as a high-speed and entertaining game provided much more than just a showcase for emerging individual talent.

Italy had a great chance to open the scoring in the third minute when Gianni Comandini fed Gionatha Spinesi but the Bari striker, selected ahead of Nicola Ventola, screwed his shot wide.

But the Czechs, roared on by a raucous crowd of around 12,000, almost all of whom had travelled across the border from the Czech Republic, quickly took control of the midfield area and launched a series of dangerous assaults.

The lively Libor Sionko went close with a spectacular overhead kick in the 13th minute and then Tomas Dosek burst in from the left and forced a good save out of Italy goalkeeper Christian Abbiati, who was called up to the senior Euro 2000 squad on Saturday.

Italy gradually began to assert themselves with the midfield pairing of Andrea Pirlo and Roberto Baronio increasingly influential.

Baronio, who will play for Italian champions Lazio next season, went close with a sweetly struck shot from 25 metres and then rattled the post with another powerful strike after neat work from Pirlo.

Italy took the lead three minutes before the break when Comandini went past three Czech defenders before being brought down by Roman Tyce and Swedish referee Kim Nilsson awarded a penalty which Andrea Pirlo converted.

Just six minutes after the interval the Czechs drew level when a mis-kick from Italy defender Bruno Cirillo allowed Marek Heinz to break down the right flank and put over a low cross for Tomas Dosek to slot home.

The equaliser prompted another sustained spell of Czech pressure but the Italian defence, commanded by the impressive Marco Zanchi, held firm.

The Czechs brought on substitute Milan Baros in attack and his sharp turns and pace began to cause the Italians concern as twice he was brought down close to the penalty area.

But then nine minutes from the end Pirlo struck the winner with a superb 25 metre curling free-kick past a helpless Ales Chvalovsky in the Czech goal.

It was a fitting goal to end a tournament, which although it has suffered from low crowds, has shown that there is plenty of talent emerging in the continent's leading soccer nations, few more promising than the night's hero Andrea Pirlo.

Czech Republic: 1-Ales Chvalovsky, 5-Roman Lengyel, 3-Adam Petrous, 6-Roman Tyce; 2- Lukas Dosek 8-Thomas Ujfalusi, 15-David Jarolim (4-Zdenek Grygera 65), 9-Marek Jankulovski (12-Jan Polak 81); 7-Libor Sionko (11-Milan Baros 62), 10-Tomas Dosek, 19-Marek Heinz.

Italy: 12-Christian Abbiati; 2-Alessandro Grandoni, 4-Marco Zanchi, 15-Bruno Cirillo; 6- Gennaro Gattuso, 8-Roberto Baronio, 17-Cristiano Zanetti (18-Fabio Firmani 85), 13-Francesco Coco; 10-Andrea Pirlo; 7-Gianni Comandini (9-Nicola Ventola 74), 20-Gionatha Spinesi (16-Ighli Vannucchi 90).