| Andrea Pirlo and Alberto Gilardino sealed an impressive 2-1 victory in Dublin, as Christian Vieri also rattled the crossbar. Marcello Lippi said he'd pick his first choice team in the final friendly ahead of their World Cup qualifiers, but many stars were ruled out by injury. Francesco Totti and Mauro Camoranesi dropped out, while Gianluigi Buffon will be sidelined for the next three months following shoulder surgery and Monaco's Flavio Roma is the alternative with the most European experience at club level.
Lippi nonetheless chose to go with an all-attack trident of Alessandro Del Piero (making his first international appearance since last September), Christian Vieri and his Milan teammate Alberto Gilardino.
The Azzurri had a bright start and within the opening two minutes Vieri had already created two good chances, one from a splendid Del Piero assist. The new Milan hitman's third opportunity was on target, but goalkeeper Shay Given got down well to fingertip it round the post.
From the resulting corner kick, Italy broke the deadlock in chaotic fashion. First Given performed a desperate point-blank save on Gilardino's header, then Andrea Pirlo slammed in the loose ball from the edge of the box.
Roma's first intervention came soon after, comfortably controlling Clinton Morrison's effort.
Vieri was extremely unlucky not to double Italy's lead on 28 minutes as his spectacular dipping volley on Alessandro Nesta's long pass rattled the crossbar with Given beaten.
There was panic in the Azzurri area moments later with Roma's rather hasty attempt to block a cross leaving him stranded, but play was halted when Reid handled the ball.
Gilardino got his glory on the half-hour mark by springing the offside trap on Del Piero's through ball, though it took two attempts to beat Given in goal.
That scoreline lasted less than a minute, as Palermo defender Cristian Zaccardo comically slipped during a clearance and gifted Andy Reid with the ball. The Republic of Ireland midfielder still had work to do and placed a perfect angled drive between Roma's outstretched hand and the upright.
Another Zaccardo error allowed Damien Duff to pull back, but this time Fabio Cannavaro was ready to clear the danger. Gennaro Gattuso was booked for a challenge that later forced Matt Holland to ask for a substitution.
His replacement, Ian Harte, nearly created a goal almost immediately, as his shot took a deflection off John O'Shea and wrong-footed Roma, but the Monaco goalkeeper was able to readjust his position for a tough save.
Lippi made four of his available six changes at half-time and experimented with a 4-4-2 that had Fabio Grosso in front of Gianluca Zambrotta. Vincenzo Iaquinta, Marco Materazzi and Sampdoria's Aimo Diana were also introduced in place of Gilardino, Del Piero, Daniele De Rossi and Alessandro Nesta.
Given rushed off his line to clear from Grosso and Stephen Carr closed down a promising counter-attack. Cannavaro went off after picking up a knock and made way for Andrea Barzagli.
Kevin Kilbane blazed wide from the edge of the box and Duff's impressive angled drive curled just past the far post. Morrison struck the side-netting as the Irish side increased the pressure in search of an equaliser.
Udinese centre-forward Iaquinta had a good opportunity in the closing stages, but couldn't keep his shot down.
There was a late scare for Lippi's men deep into stoppages when a free kick was flicked out to Morrison, but his goal was ruled out for a handling offence.
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