 Italy have won a battle of European heavyweights against Portugal in an international friendly in Zurich, cruising to a 3-1 victory.
Luca Toni opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time before Andrea Pirlo made it 2-0 shortly after the restart.
Ricardo Quaresma reduced the deficit in the 77th minute before substitute Fabio Quagliarella made it 3-1 two minutes later.
The Azzurri are looking to follow up their World Cup triumph with a title at Euro 2008 and on this evidence Roberto Donadoni's side will be one of the favourites.
Donadoni had to do without World Cup-winning goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon but Marco Amelia proved a sturdy replacement making fine saves from Cristiano Ronaldo.
Italy thought they had broken the deadlock after five minutes only for the referee to rule out Pirlo's goal for a hand-ball.
On 13 minutes, Massimo Ambrosini latched onto Pirlo's free-kick but his header was met by a fine save by Ricardo.
Midway through the first half, Portugal almost took the lead with Bruno Alves' header from a corner going just over the crossbar.
In the 26th minute, Toni's pass sliced Portugal's defence wide open and Antonio Di Natale fired on target forcing Ricardo to palm away for a corner.
After 36 minutes, Ronaldo chested down the ball towards Ariza Makukula, who got past his marker before firing a right-footed strike that went inches wide off the far post.
Portugal persisted and almost took the lead three minutes later had Amelia not fully stretched to clear Ronaldo's powerful free-kick.
Italy went into the break with a 1-0 lead after Fabio Grosso's cross from the left found Toni at the far post who anticipated before Alves to fire into the back of the net.
Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari made three changes after the break, with Manchester United's Nani coming on.
Italy continued to rule and it didn't take long for the Azzurri to extend their advantage.
Pirlo's right-footed effort from the edge of the area took a deflection from Fabio Cannavaro and beat Ricardo.
Shortly before the hour-mark, Ricardo made a one-handed save from Di Natale's close-range effort.
Italy were unlucky not to put the game beyond their rivals' reach on 65 minutes with Ricardo getting a touch on Raffaele Palladino's bullet strike and deflecting the ball off the crossbar.
Shortly after, Donadoni made his second substitution with Marco Borriello replaced Toni as the Genoa striker made his debut with the senior team.
Portugal surged forward and their efforts were rewarded. Nani's cross from the left served Quaresma inside the area who fired past Amelia.
Italy then killed the game off with 11 minutes remaining, with substitute Simone Perrotta's header finding Quagliarella inside the box, who fired home.
Two minutes before the end, Amelia was twice called into action having to fully stretch to palm away Ronaldo's curled free-kick and, shortly after, Nani's close-range effort. ITALIA-PORTOGALLO 3-1 (primo tempo 1-0) MARCATORI: Toni (I) al 46' p.t.; F. Cannavaro (I) al 5', Quaresma (P) al 32', Quagliarella (I) al 33' s.t. ITALIA (4-1-4-1): Amelia; Oddo (Cassetti dal 36' s.t.), F. Cannavaro, Barzagli (Gamberini dall'8' s.t.) , Zambrotta (Grosso dal 29' p.t.); De Rossi (Perrotta dall'8' s.t.); Palladino (Quagliarella dal 33' s.t.), Pirlo, Ambrosini, Di Natale; Toni (Borriello dal 27' s.t.). (De Sanctis, Aquilani). ALLENATORE: Donadoni. PORTOGALLO (4-2-3-1): Ricardo; Bosingwa (Ribeiro dal 24' s.t.), R. Carvalho, B.Alves, Caneira (P.Ferreira dal 1' s.t.); Petit (F. Meira dal 1' s.t.), Maniche (Meireles dal 17' s.t.); Quaresma, Deco (Nani dal 1' s.t.), C.Ronaldo; Makukula (Almeida dal 12' s.t.). (Quim, Patricio). ALLENATORE: Scolari. PA Sport
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