In a game that ran true to the form book, Italy did the required minimum to beat a willing if not always able England 1-0 at the Stadio Delle Alpi in Turin last night. On a cold, wet night that made an already heavy pitch even stickier, and in front of a disappointing 22,000 attendance, this was hardly a football spectacular.

Despite the result, England coach-in-waiting, Swede Sven-Goran Eriksson, may well have detected some positive signs from his grandstand viewpoint. England's willingness to battle, the vision and touch of captain David Beckham, the confident pace of Emile Heskey in attack, at least one good save from David James and the fact that England more than once came close to snatching a late equaliser were all plus points.

However, if asked which of the two teams they would like to be coaching next July, most neutral observers last night would have undoubtedly plumped for the accomplished Italians. In the end, Italy's biggest problems came more from their less than totally committed attitude to an all too "friendly" friendly than from England.

Hero of the night was the onetime Glasgow Rangers player Gennaro Gattuso, who made the most of a poor England clearance to pick up a ball outside the opposition penalty area and then work his way across before striking an impressive 57th-minute winner that hit the underside of the crossbar, leaving Aston Villa goalkeeper James with no chance.

That goal came seconds after what was perhaps England's best chance of the night. Nicky Barmby did well to make the most of an unusual defensive hesitation from Alessandro Nesta to work his way down the left wing before sending Heskey steaming into the penalty area. The Liverpool striker knocked in a low cross that had Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon scrambling across to make a desperate save from Ray Parlour on the right. Italy's winning goal came directly from the clearance following that England near-miss.

The goal prompted a courageous English fightback which but for the fine reflexes of Buffon in the 74th minute would have yielded a David Beckham equaliser. Late in the game, too, Buffon could only stand by as a Beckham corner was headed on to the ground and just over by Parlour.

The value of the English fightback was relative, however, since it came during a period when Italy upset their own rhythm by making four changes.

One of those substitutes, though, Juventus striker Alessandro Del Piero, almost made it two for Italy when hitting a fine 80th-minute free kick that James did well to turn over the bar.

In the first half both sides played according to stereotypical national characteristics. Italy looked occasionally elegant but mostly uninterested and despite some flowing football, failed to put the inexperienced James under any serious pressure.

England had bustled about with Heskey and Nick Barmby looking more than willing but less than unstoppable up front. Likewise, Kieron Dyer in the centre of midfield and Parlour on the right had shown plenty of willingness but little real penetration.

England's limited efforts left Italian goalkeeper Buffon almost as underemployed as his English counterpart and when England finally shot on goal via a well-struck effort from captain Beckham in the 34th minute, such was the goalkeeper's surprise that he took two efforts to control the shot.

Inevitably, England's brightest moments came when Beckham touched the ball. More than once in the opening period he sent Heskey away on a good run only for the young Liverpool striker to come unstuck on the imposing rock of the Italian defence where Paolo Maldini, Nesta and Fabio Cannavaro yielded nothing.

When Eriksson finally leaves Lazio for England, there is little doubt but that he would dearly like to take Nesta and a few other Italians with him. If he makes it with this England nobody will claim it was because he was just able to manage players at the very top.

Italy: Buffon, Cannavaro, Nesta (Adani 67), Maldini (Bertotto 74), Di Livio (D Zenoni 52), Albertini (Di Biagio 52), Gattuso, Coco, Fiore, F Inzaghi (Del Piero 73), Delvecchio (S Inzaghi 61). Subs Not Used: Toldo, Pancaro, Pessotto, Ambrosini. Goals: Gattuso 57.

England: James, Ferdinand, Southgate, Barry (Johnson 73), G Neville, Beckham, Butt (Carragher 25), Dyer (Fowler 83), Parlour (Anderton 78), Barmby, Heskey (Phillips 73). Subs Not Used: Wright, Lampard, P Neville, Ball, Robinson.

Referee: S Puhl (Hungary).