A dominant Azzurri drew with Austria 2-2 in Nice, France as Alberto Gilardino and a goalkeeping howler allowed Italy to fight back from 2-0 down on Marcello Lippi's debut.

Lippi made his return two years after the World Cup Final and this was his 30th match in charge. The Azzurri had not crossed paths with Austria since a 2-1 win in the 1998 World Cup, making up 17 victories, seven draws and 12 defeats. Italy hadn't lost to the Europeans since 1960. With Lippi on the bench, Italy were unbeaten in 25 official games.

Alessandro Del Piero wore the captain's armband and Alberto Gilardino made his comeback, while injuries to Giorgio Chiellini, Fabio Cannavaro, Marco Materazzi and Mauro Camoranesi forced a defensive reshuffle.

A minute's silence was held and the team wore black armbands for Roma President Franco Sensi, who died on Sunday night aged 82. The crowd in Nice also applauded warmly, as Sensi had once owned the local club.

Within the opening 60 seconds Italy had created a great chance, as Gilardino was inches away from tapping in Gianluca Zambrotta's taut cross. Moments later, Zambrotta unleashed a screamer from almost 30 metres that tested Juventus' Alex Manninger.

Gilardino went very close on nine minutes, but didn't get enough power to his header from Fabio Grosso's cross and Manninger was able to block.

However, it was Austria who opened the scoring against the run of play after 14 minutes. A deflected Harnik cross found Emanuel Pogatetz relatively unmarked for a searing left-foot strike under the bar. It was Zambrotta who should have been marking the Boro defender at the back post.

Gilardino incredibly failed to score the equaliser two minutes later. He was sent clear on goal by a Del Piero through ball and his marker stumbled, but the Fiorentina striker hesitated and allowed Manninger to get a hand to it in a one-on-one situation.

Di Natale horribly wasted a counter-attack and Gennaro Gattuso was flagged offside, while Gilardino again wasn't quick enough to make the most of a smart Del Piero backheel.

An Andrea Barzagli error almost handed a second to Austria, but Janko just failed to tap in from six yards, as Daniele Bonera did enough to put him off. However, Austria scored from the resulting throw-in. Scharno knocked it down for Mark Janko's turn at the near post and Gianluigi Buffon was left stranded by a decisive deflection.

There was a none-too-friendly atmosphere with some tough tackles flying in from Gattuso and Ivanschitz. Ivanschitz blasted over and Buffon smothered a Gyorgy Garics effort as Austria were revitalised under new Coach Karol Bruckner, who had led the Czech Republic at Euro 2008.

Gattuso had taken a knock to the shoulder earlier on and carried on after treatment, but he eventually had to pull out just before half-time to make way for Simone Perrotta.

However, despite that situation, Italy got one back. Di Natale's cross from the left was on its way to Gilardino, but Stranzl kicked it on to the Fiorentina man's chest and it ricocheted into the net.

Lippi made a series of changes at the break with Alberto Aquilani, Andrea Dossena and Nicola Legrottaglie replacing Andrea Pirlo, Grosso and Bonera. Barzagli nodded a corner over and Di Natale had a shot charged down.

Del Piero had a golden opportunity to equalise on 53 minutes. He sprung the offside trap on Gilardino's deflected assist off Saumel and aimed his right foot curler for the top corner in an identical move to the one he scored against Germany in the World Cup Final, but this time he placed it just wide.

As with the first goal, Italy were helped to score by some comical Austrian defending. Substitute goalkeeper Oczan came out to punch a harmless Zambrotta cross, but incredibly scuffed it so it went backwards into his own net!

Another Roma player came on, Marco Cassetti for Zambrotta, while Sampdoria's Angelo Palombo replaced Del Piero. Barzagli parried a dangerous Fuchs glancing header, while Aquilani tested Oczan with a scuffed shot.

Barzagli was again crucial to put off Maierhofer on a header over from six yards, but Italy went very close on 80 minutes as Oczan flew to fingertip a Legrottaglie header off the line. The move continued and the goalkeeper made another point-blank save on Di Natale.

Oczan smothered a De Rossi free kick, while Stranzl's last-gasp challenge in the box stopped Gilardino turning in Di Natale's through ball. Perrotta just failed to reach De Rossi's cross when unmarked at the back post.