It's not a display that will have struck fear into the heart of the Italians - but it was an exercise that would have benefited the fringe players in Gareth Southgate's England squad.
With only Lewis Dunk keeping his place on the starting line-up from the side that beat Scotland last month, England ground out a 1-0 win over Australia after a disjointed display. Failing to muster a shot on target in the opening 45 minutes, Ollie Watkins proved the match winner when he slid home from close range before the hour mark.
The impressive visitors had their moments too, not to mention a guilt-edged opportunity wasted by Ryan Strain before the break. Indeed, there was plenty for Southgate for ponder at the final whistle.
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Colwill's confident start
It wasn't exactly a case of being thrown into the lions' den, but Chelsea youngster Levi Colwill was entrusted with a starting place by Gareth Southgate and did not disappoint.
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Winning his first cap, the 20-year-old looked like a player at ease with his surroundings, assured on the ball and prepared to step-up from left-back and link with Jack Grealish and co ahead of him. There was no sign of timidness either, earning a first-half yellow card for a fiery off-ball altercation.
More difficult tests lie in wait in an England shirt for the Chelsea youngster. And so do a lot more international caps.
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Johnstone's record remains
Persuading Gareth Southgate to dispel with Jordan Pickford as England's No.1 appears about as futile as urging Luis Rubiales to admit to a non-consensual kiss.
However, having watch England rival Aaron Ramsdale get the chance to stake his claim as England's No.2 against Scotland last month, tonight came the turn of Sam Johnstone. And despite a dodgy start as his hurried clearance sailed over the sideline, the Crystal Palace keeper then impressed.
Regularly showing off his range of passing, Johnston also saved sharply from Keanu Baccus' deflected effort early on. He might have been left indebted to Dunk's last ditch clearance before half time, but it's now four England caps, and four clean sheets.
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Keanu Baccus was singled out by Harry Kewell pre-game as an Australian player to watch after a promising start to the season with St Mirren.
The 25-year-old has been tipped to one day follow in the footsteps of Kewell, Mark Viduka and co and play in the Premier League, and produced plenty at Wembley to suggest there's enough potential to realise that dream. Driving forward from midfield, his long-range effort in the fist half forced Johnstone into a meaningful save.
His contribution shortly before the break should have culminated in the opening goal, sharply turning Dunk and slipping a pass to Ryan Strain, whose shot was duly cleared off the line by the recovering Brighton defender. Furthermore, hounding down Grealish at one point before dispossessing the playmaker epitomised a hard working display.
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Maddison's audition in the middle
For James Maddison is seemed a bigger night than most, given the chance to shine in the middle of the park by Southgate.
Had Watkins not hit the woodwork from his sublime through ball in the first half the narrative around his display would have been different. There were further flashes of quality and some neat turns before he was replaced late on, but overall it was not the commanding performance that the Tottenham man would have targeted.
Ousting Jude Bellingham for the more meaningful contests currently looks the equivalent of scaling Everest. He'll remain very much part of the squad, but in terms of that ambition, Maddison has a fair bit of mountain climbing to do.
James Maddison on the ball at Wembley (AFP via Getty Images)Watkins left relieved
When you serve as the back-up striker to Harry Kane, you must take every chance that comes your way.
But whilst Watkins has been banging them in at club level, two big moments passed him by before half time. After failing to get the ball out of his feet when in front of goal early on, he then hit the post when clean through to compound his frustration.
The Aston Villa man made sure his second England start didn't go to waste though, connecting with a volleyed Grealish cross to score the winner 57 minutes in. Watkins would have left the field 72 minutes breathing more than one sigh of relief.
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