England Under-21 2, Italy Under-21 2.

England Under-21s let a two-goal lead slip in their European Championship clash against Italy in Arnhem.

David Nugent and Leroy Lita, who had earlier missed open goals, put Stuart Pearce's youngsters ahead before the Azzurri forced their way back into the reckoning under the closed roof at the Gelredome to keep themselves in the competition.

Giorgio Chiellini and Alberto Aquilani scored either side of the break to earn a draw for Pierluigi Casiraghi's side.

Softening the blow for Pearce is knowing a win on Sunday against Serbia, who reached the semi-finals after beating Czech Republic, will see them through to the last four.

He also saw his change in formation produce the open match of an otherwise defensive tournament so far.

England had been unbeaten since 2005 but Pearce saw enough in the goalless draw against Czech Republic to want more of an attacking threat and dispensed with the normal lone-striker formation that saw them through qualifying.

With Lita and Nugent in attack, England started at the Premier League pace Pearce had talked about prior to the game. Lita almost got behind the Italians twice before his embarrassing miss.

Lita rounded goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano but poked weakly wide after 17 minutes before he thumped an effort against the crossbar a minute later.

Nugent grabbed the first, in the 24th minute, heading Leighton Baines cross home.

Lita made amends for his earlier misses by tucking away the second. Riccardo Montolivo lost the ball to Nugent in a dangerous position, with Ashley Young then slipping Lita through to finish.

It sparked jubilant celebrations straight into the television cameras after he also missed a penalty against the Czechs.

Italy pulled one back with a fortunate strike from Chiellini and then levelled in the 69th minute when Aquilani drilled in from 25 yards.