Debutants Antonio Candreva and Davide Biondini impressed, while Giuseppe Rossi had the best chances in a 0-0 with Holland. There was bad news for the Dutch side, as Robin van Persie was stretchered off.

The Azzurri began their approach to the 2010 World Cup by welcoming the Oranje to Pescara in a match organised to raise funds for the area's earthquake victims. Marcello Lippi made changes with Livorno's Antonio Candreva on his debut and Raffaele Palladino's first appearance in two years. Goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon celebrated his 100th cap. Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben were out for Holland.

Debutant Candreva had a chance in the opening minute, running on to a quickly taken free kick before he was crowded out in the box.

There was a pitch invasion a few minutes into the match, who was wearing a shirt that read 'Cassano in the Nazionale' - a message that Marcello Lippi certainly won't have enjoyed.

Bad news for Holland - and Arsenal - when Robin van Persie fell awkwardly in a collision with Giorgio Chiellini and was stretchered, off, prompting the introduction of Milan flop Klaas-Jan Huntelaar.

Holland went close when Elia combined passes with Dirk Kuyt and a deflection allowed the Liverpool man to flash a shot across the face of goal from nine yards.

Candreva's sudden snapshot from 20 metres was deflected wide off a defender's back and Alberto Gilardino nodded the corner off target. Palladino tested the goalkeeper with a powerful shot from distance that was plucked out of the air.

Angelo Palombo was furious with Nigel De Jong for a two-footed tackle that could've been very dangerous, slicing a hole through his sock, but the shinpad fortunately did its job. He wasn't booked, but De Jong did get a yellow card soon after for a different late challenge.

A Rafael van der Vaart free kick took a touch off Palladino's head, allowing Buffon to capture it mid-air. The goalkeeper also comfortably dealt with a scuffed Elia volley.

On 40 minutes a corner was whipped in for Palladino to balloon over with the outside of his right foot, but he was unmarked from six yards.

Pirlo flashed a free kick wide of the far post, while the Milan midfielder then turned a stunned Mark van Bommel in midfield and immediately passed long for Palladino, forcing Martin Stekelenberg to rush out of the box to clear.

There were no substitutions at half-time, but it was a friendly only to a degree, as Lippi had words with van Bommel when the Dutchman was booked for a late foul on Fabio Grosso.

Giuseppe Rossi replaced Palladino and within two minutes his pull-back from the left flank for Gilardino was intercepted by a crucial defensive lunge.

Candreva's dummy let a Camoranesi cross through for Gilardino, who was unable to turn the marker.

Grosso had plenty of space down the left and his cross found Camoranesi, but the shot struck an Orange jersey inside the penalty area.

Davide Biondini of Cagliari also received his Italy debut for the final 20 minutes, coming on for Palombo. Giampaolo Pazzini and Riccardo Montolivo replaced Gilardino and Candreva.

Pazzini was stopped clear on goal by a very tight offside decision. Domenico Criscito took over from 'local lad' Grosso.

A free kick was taken quickly by Biondini to send Rossi into the box, but he hesitated when confronted by two defenders and then slipped as he pulled the trigger. Moments later Rossi had another great chance, as he burst forward on the counter and his shot was deflected wide.

Italy thought they had taken the lead from the corner kick. Fabio Cannavaro nodded it back across the face of goal and Pazzini cale sliding in, bundling the ball over the line. However, Holland were furious and replays showed it clearly struck his arm, so the goal was disallowed.

Villarreal starlet Rossi was by far the most lively and ran on to a smart Criscito pass down the left channel, anticipating the defender and forcing Stekelenberg into a tricky save at the near post.

Fiorentina's Marco Marchionni replaced Camoranesi for the closing stages. A rare Cannavaro error in stoppages gave Holland their best opportunity, but Gianluca Zambrotta's sliding challenge closed down van Bommel for a corner.

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