FLORENCE, ITALY (AFP) - Italy made an underwhelming return to action after triumph at Euro 2020 on Thursday (Sept 2) as the Azzurri only managed a 1-1 draw with Bulgaria in a low-key 2022 World Cup qualifier.

Some 14,000 fans showed up for the Group C clash at the half-capacity Stadio Artemio Franchi in Florence to welcome back the footballing heroes of a heady sporting summer for Italians, who also witnessed unprecedented track and field results at the Tokyo Olympics.