Italy and Serbia cancelled each other out in their European Under-21 Championship opener, despite the efforts of Zoran Tosic.

Tosic was billed as a winger when he arrived at Old Trafford but he started through the middle for the Serbs before drifting out to the right flank at times.

The 22-year-old, a possible heir to Cristiano Ronaldo, was playing in United-style positions and was more influential during the second half at Olympia Stadium.

But it was Pierluigi Casiraghi's youngsters created the better openings in the first 45 minutes.

Sebastian Giovinco had a lob tipped over the crossbar by Zeljko Brkic and the Serbia goalkeeper later palmed away a cross from the Juventus playmaker that looked like it was dipping into the far corner.

Inter forward Mario Balotelli also forced Brkic into a save at the near post with a powerful drive just after he was booked for kicking the ball away.

After the break, the Azzurrini threatened from set-pieces and Balotelli fired wide - but Brkic was not seriously troubled.

Giovinco was sent through with a ball over the top, breaking the offside trap, but he made a total mess of his lobbed finish and Brkic did not move to make his save.

Tosic's delivery created two chances in a minute for the 2007 finalists, firstly when Nenad Tomovic's far-post finish was saved, then when Gojko Kacar hit the post with a scissor-kick.

Tosic then went close with a 25-yard free-kick before the end but it ended goalless.