Italy's top two divisions do not begin their league campaigns until next week, and the players' lack of match fitness was evident as Roberto Donadoni's side were held by a team ranked 65th in the world.

The visitors took a shock lead through Tomas Danilevicius in the 21st minute, before Filippo Inzaghi equalised for the Azzurri nine minutes later.

Italy had enough chances to win the match comfortably, but a combination of weary legs and poor finishing left them with just one point rather than three.

Antonio Cassano marked his return to the national team after a 15-month absence with an eye-catching performance, his intelligent runs and quick feet proving a real handful for the Lithuanian defence.

However, Italy's best performer was tigerish midfielder Gennaro Gattuso, whose fierce tackling rescued the Azzurri on several occasions.

Italy's second Group B match takes place on Wednesday when they play away to France, the team they beat on penalties to win the World Cup final.

Donadoni admitted his team were way off the pace.

"It's nothing more than this," said the former AC Milan and Italy midfielder who took over from Marcello Lippi shortly after the World Cup.

"We created lots of chances and I thought we were very unlucky."

Inzaghi took some positives from a match Italy would have won at a canter had they been more clinical.

"I thought we played really well, we created so many chances," said the AC Milan marksman.

"Their goalkeeper seemed unbeatable in the second half, he made some unbelievable saves. I thought that considering the stage (of the season) we are at, the team gave everything.

"Obviously I thought we deserved to win. We were extremely unlucky."

The World Cup was paraded around the San Paolo stadium before the kick-off and Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro, who was born in Naples, received a rapturous reception.

Italy, whose starting line-up included six of the team that began the World Cup final, carved out two half-chances in the opening stages which Inzaghi and Fabio Grosso failed to capitalize on.

Lithuania refused to be intimidated and they almost took the lead in the 18th minute when Danilevicius' looping header was clawed away by Gianluigi Buffon.

Italy failed to heed the warning and found themselves a goal down to the Balkan battlers three minutes later.

Deividas Cesnauskis crossed from the right and an unmarked Danilevicius, who plays for Italian club Livorno, tucked a low shot wide of Buffon and into the bottom corner.

The goal stunned a vociferous home crowd, but their jeers turned to cheers nine minutes later when Italy levelled the score.

Simone Perrotta's chipped pass found Cassano who had drifted wide in the penalty area, and his low cross from the left was tapped in by the predatory Inzaghi for his 23rd goal in 51 internationals.

Cassano went close to giving Italy a half-time lead when his mazy dribble left him with just Zyfrunas Karcemarskas to beat, but the Lithuania keeper pulled off an excellent save to deny the rejuvenated Real Madrid striker.

Inzaghi was a fraction away from doubling his tally shortly after the break, but his flicked header from Massimo Oddo's right-wing cross flashed wide.

Buffon beat away Mantas Savenas' shot as Lithunia tried to regain the upper hand, while at the other end Karcemarskas' outstretched boot prevented Inzaghi's drive from finding the bottom corner.

Karcemarskas was Lithuania's saviour again on the hour, blocking Cassano as the former Roma striker latched on to a weak defensive clearance.

Italy almost produced a carbon copy of their first goal 15 minutes from time, but Inzaghi somehow sliced his close-range shot over the bar after good work from Cassano.

Alberto Gilardino almost saved Italy's blushes in stoppage time, but Tomas Tamosauskas was on the line to stop the substitute striker's header from crossing the line.