It certainly had the feel of a pre-season friendly and, in effect, that is just what it was, as England began their season with a chance of revenge for what happened a few weeks ago in Kiev.  The European Championship quarter-final against Italy now seems years ago, but in fact only 52 days has elapsed since that disappointing night.

The two teams met again in Berne, Switzerland for this friendly and Roy Hodgson had the chance to put together a very experimental team.  He certainly gave youth a chance, giving no less than five players their England debuts.  Jack Butland, so solid in goal for Team GB's Olympic challenge, was given the chance to start in goal and in so doing he became the youngest ever England goalkeeper.  It was an ideal game for Jack to have his senior bow and he didn't let anyone down.

With both line-ups unrecognisable from the Euro 2012 tie, it was not surprising that in the early stages of the match it was cat and mouse as the teams felt each other out.  For the first ten minutes it was a typical England v Italy clash with both sides cagey and nervous.  Andy Carroll headed over from a Frank Lampard corner and then on 14 minutes Alessandro Diamanti saw his deflected free-kick scrambled away by Butland.  From the resultant corner Italy took the lead, slightly against the run of play.  Poor defending gave Daniele Di Rossi the chance to glance a header goalwards.  Butland had no chance as the excellent header flew past him.  Another save by Butland was then followed by England hitting back as Lampard laid the ball to Adam Johnson, but his shot was straight at Salvatore Sirigu.

Mattia Destro was lively up front for the Italians and both Gary Cahill and Phil Jagielka had their hands full with the talented forward.  On 27 minutes though, more good work by Johnson saw him combine with Kyle Walker to force a corner.  Lampard's kick dipped as it flew into the area and it was Jagielka who bravely dived in amongst the flying feet to glance home a fine headed equaliser.  It was his first goal for his country and no more than England deserved.

Lampard was always looking to fire in shots and one powerful drive just after the half hour mark forced a flappy save from Sirigu, which he managed to get away with, and as England continued to dictate, Lampard again came close.  He, and the recalled Michael Carrick, were both showing up well in the midfield for England, and new cap Tom Cleverly was also making a very useful contribution with his workrate and passing skills.  At the other end Butland blocked a cross from the left with his foot and on 40 minutes Ashley Young was fouled, not for the first time, on the edge of the box, and Lampard came very close with his free-kick.  The final action saw Ignacio Abate make a good run before firing a cross-cum-shot across goal with no Italian able to get a touch.  For all the possession that both sides enjoyed it was ironic that both goals had come from dead ball situations.

The second half began with another debutant John Ruddy of Norwich replacing Butland and Jermaine Defoe coming on for the disappointing Carroll.  Ruddy was soon in the action and made a solid save after four minutes of his debut.  England started the second half a little sloppily and Ruddy made a fine save from Destro.  Italy should then have scored but Federico Peluso shot wide when clean through on the left.

England gradually came back into it though and on the hour more good skills by Johnson forced a corner and Young then shot over.  James Milner and Joleon Lescott came on for Young and Jagielka and England improved further.  On 66 minutes Cahill volleyed home a fierce shot from a corner, only for the referee to harshly penalise Lescott for a foul when in fact he was the one being fouled.  More substitutions came on for Italy and Jake Livermore made his debut replacing Lampard, whilst later Ryan Bertrand became the fifth new England player on the night when he replaced the impressive Leighton Baines.

There was an amazing let-off for Italy on 72 minutes when Milner's teasing cross was first almost put through his own goal by Peluso, then saved by Sirigu, and then Lescott forced the ball against a post before the Italians managed to scramble the ball clear.  England then had another goal ruled out, this time by Defoe, again because Lescott was penalised for a foul.

Six minutes later Italy's Marco Verrati forced Ruddy into a fine tip over save, and the goalkeeper had certainly made his mark in his first appearance.  From the corner Bertrand headed off the line and after the clearance Milner broke away and fed a fine pass to Defoe.  It looked as though the Tottenham man had gone too wide and run up a blind alley as the Italians tracked back to cover.  But Defoe cut back inside and unleashed a superb shot towards the far post.  Sirigu managed a touch but the force of the shot beat him to give England the lead, a lead they deserved.  On 83 minutes more good work by Bertrand set up Defoe again but this time his shot was wide.

The game was hotting up now and Abate made a fine run before seeing his shot scrambled away.  England were not about to be denied though and Milner's brilliant run near the end so nearly set up Defoe again, only stopped by some desperate defending.  Milner had made a lively cameo appearance.

In the end England held on to their lead rather comfortably, and this ended up a very satisfying result for Roy's Boys.  Lots of positives to take from the game not least in the enthusiasm shown by the newcomers and the refreshing attitude of the more established players. everyone can be pleased with their night's work and it augers well for the important games coming up in a month's time.