Now here is a familiar story of daring-do and patriotic heroism, of brave boys and cruel misfortune.

The split is annoyingly familiar so brace yourselves: Tiny Wales are pitted against a footballing giant and perform well enough to preserve pride and win plaudits, but not well enough to win.

Afterwards the talk is of a campaign possibly over before it had begun and of what may happen in the months ahead and not what might have been in the minutes just past.

Wales currently stand at 103 in Fifa's world rankings, so to presume they would defeat an Italian side under new stewardship was to believe in miracles.

As the Welsh coach Bobby Gould will tell you, while football often yields surprises, it is notoriously mean when it comes to miracles.

Despite playing exceedingly well, Wales never looked like winning, only hinting at an upset early on when the adrenalin rush was at its most pronounced and before the less thoughtful members among their ranks forgot rule one, which stated, clearly, that the ball should be presented to Ryan Giggs at every opportunity.

Presumably, because he lacks the quality support he is afforded at club level, Giggs often disappoints on the international stage but on Saturday he shouldered the burden of responsibility gloriously.

And, but for the first of what was to become a procession of curious decisions by the Norwegian referee Terjeauge, Giggs would have pushed Wales ahead after seven minutes. The Italian goalkeeper Angelo Peruzzi clearly handled the ball outside the area when preventing Giggs a decisive touch to a through ball.

The opening goal was a joke, the sad punchline being provided by Chris Coleman, who performed so wretchedly it was difficult to believe he was not using the occasion to perversely remind us all that he has now found his true level at Fulham.

His attempted pass out of defence was woefully underhit and allowed Diego Fuser to intercept and score.

Christian Vieri's marvellous goal 13 minutes from time, came after glorious approach play from Eusebio Di Francesco.

Wales: Jones, Robinson, Barnard, Symons, Johnson, Speed, Blake (Saunders 64), Hughes (Savage 80), Giggs, Williams, Coleman. Subs Not Used: Bellamy, Trollope, Mardon, Ward, Llewelyn. Booked: Blake, Speed.

Italy: Peruzzi, Panucci, Pessotto, D. Baggio, Cannavaro, Juliano, Fuser, Albertini (Di Biagio 66), Vieri, Del Piero (R. Baggio 73), Di Francesco (Serena 85). Subs Not Used: Buffon, Negro, Inzaghi, Chiesa. Goals: Fuser 19, Vieri 76.

Referee: T Hauge (Norway).