With Friday marking 10 years since the first game was played at the new Wembley - England U21s' thrilling 3-3 draw with Italy U21s - we look back at the stars who served up a fitting curtain-raiser...
The landmark fixture - 2,358 days after the doors of the old iconic ground were closed - bared little resemblance to the tight, cagey affairs which have tended to grace the hallowed turf over the past decade.
The latest crop of English and Italian talent, given the chance to stake their claim to history at the new Home of Football, did not disappoint, serving up a thrilling 3-3 draw.
But what happened to the squads managed by Nigel Pearson and Pierluigi Casiraghi? We look at how their careers have fared since...
England
GOALKEEPER: Lee Camp
England's No.1 on the day, Camp has taken his tally of League appearances to over 450 for the likes of Derby, Nottingham Forest, Queens Park Rangers and current club Rotherham United. He switched his international allegiances in 2011, going on to earn nine caps for Northern Ireland.
RIGHT-BACK: Liam Rosenior
Then at Fulham, Rosenior's career has been on the periphery of the top-flight for the most part but he is on the brink of returning, playing a key role in Brighton's promotion push.
CENTRE-BACK: Anton Ferdinand
While unable to follow in his older brother Rio's footsteps into the senior side, Ferdinand enjoyed a spells in the Premier League with West Ham, Sunderland and QPR. He has made more than 300 League appearances and currently plays for Southend in League One.
CENTRE-BACK: Gary Cahill
Cahill has developed into one of England's finest defenders, winning 52 senior caps and five major honours - including the 2012 Champions League - at the heart of the Chelsea defence.
LEFT-BACK: Leighton Baines
The understudy to Ashley Cole for the early part of his international career, Everton defender Baines has enjoyed a lengthy spell in the senior ranks since Cole's retirement, winning 30 caps and counting.
RIGHT MIDFIELD: David Bentley
The golden boy of Pearson's side, who scored the first England goal at the new Wembley with a trademark free-kick, Bentley's stock rose during spells at Blackburn and Tottenham, earning him seven senior caps before his career came to an abrupt halt after retiring in 2014.
CENTRE MIDFIELD: Nigel Reo-Coker (c)
The first player to lead an England team out at the new Wembley, Reo-Coker played at the top level with West Ham, Aston Villa and Bolton, until their relegation in 2012. He has been without a club since leaving MLS franchise Montreal Impact in 2016.
LEFT MIDFIELD: Kieran Richardson
A product of the Manchester United academy, Richardson's place in the upper reaches of the English football was all but assured. Despite this, the 32-year-old has been without a club since being released by Cardiff in December.
LEFT FORWARD: Gabriel Agbonlahor
The one-club man's exploits for the U21s yielded three senior caps but, like his career at Aston Villa, stagnation struck and he never went on to bigger and better things.
CENTRE FORWARD: Leroy Lita
Career journeyman Lita - remembered for his spells with Reading, Middlesbrough and Swansea - currenty plies his trade for Sisaket in Thailand.
RIGHT FORWARD: Wayne Routledge
Senior recognition has yet to follow for Routledge, who put England 2-1 ahead, despite enjoying a successful career in the Premier League with the likes of Spurs, Newcastle and side Swansea.
Substitutes
Justin Hoyte
The Arsenal academy product excelled at Middlesbrough after leaving the Emirates. Currently without a club, Hoyte earned senior caps for Trinidad and Tobago
Ben Alnwick
Career failed to take off after joining Spurs in 2007. Ten years, and 11 clubs later, he is helping Bolton recover from relegation to League One.
Liam Ridgewell
Had lengthy spells at Aston Villa, Birmingham and West Brom before crossing the pond to join Portland Timbers, where he remains.
Lee Cattermole
At Middlesbrough at the time, Cattermole has remained in the top-flight with Wigan and current club Sunderland.
James Milner
England's most-capped player at U21 level has transferred that to the senior side, earning 61 caps before retiring in 2016. Milner won every domestic trophy with Manchester City, before moving to Liverpool in 2015.
Tom Huddlestone
The midfielder has gone on to make 237 Premier League appearances for Tottenham and current club Hull City.
Ashley Young
On the books of boyhood club Watford at the time, Young moved to Aston Villa and then Manchester United, where he has won the Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup.
Matt Derbyshire
Came off the bench to score what looked to be the match winner until Italy equalised. A serial loanee across the English divisions, he now plies his trade in Cyprus with Omonia Nicosia.
Cameron Jerome
Another who failed to earn senior recognition, Jerome has carved out a credible career at Birmingham, Stoke, Crystal Palace and now Norwich.
Joe Hart
Arguably the most-successful member of the squad, Hart has gone on to become England's No.1, winning 68 caps for his country and five major honours with Manchester City.
Italy
GOALKEEPER: Gianluca Curci
The Italian goalkeeper played 58 times in Serie A for Roma, before moves to Siena, Sampdoria, back to Roma, and then Bologna on loan. He is yet to make a senior appearance for the Azzurri, and is now a free agent after being released by German side Mainz.
CENTRE-BACK: Andrea Mantovani
The Chievo full-back stayed at the club for another four years, but never made a senior Italy appearances despite appearing 16 times for the U21s. Mantovani, now 32, is playing for Novara in the Serie B.
CENTRE-BACK: Marco Andreolli
Then at Inter, Andreolli made the move to Roma in 2007, but made only eight Serie A appearances before a few loan moves around Italy. He is now at Inter, and had a short loan stint with Sevilla last season.
CENTRE-BACK: Giorgio Chiellini (c)
The defender is the most successful of the Italian U21 side to open Wembley, winning five Serie A titles and two Coppa Italias with Juventus, where he has racked up 330 league appearances. Chiellini was captain on the day for Italy, and is well on his way to making a century of appearances for the senior side, currently on 90 caps.
RIGHT WING-BACK: Alessandro Potenza
Another who failed to get a full Italy cap, Potenza is now retired from the game after stints all over Italy, and a season with Indian side Chennaiyin FC.
CENTRE MIDFIELD: Riccardo Montolivo
Second only behind Chiellini in terms of success, Montolivo has consistently played at the top of the Italian game with Fiorentina and AC Milan. After representing Italy at the 2008 Olympics, 64 senior caps for the Azzurri have followed.
CENTRE MIDFIELD: Antonio Nocerino
The midfielder, playing at Piacenza at the time, earned a move to Juventus a few months after the Wembley clash, before stints at Palermo, Milan, and a loan period at West Ham. He made 10 appearances for the Hammers, and now resides in the MLS with Orlando City.
LEFT WING-BACK: Alessandro Rosina
Earned a single senior cap following his exploits for the U21s, but failed to kick on during spells across Italy and with Zenit St Petersburg. Currently on the books of Serie B club Salernitana.
RIGHT FORWARD: Giuseppe Rossi
On the books at Manchester United when Wembley opened, Rossi failed to make the grade at Old Trafford but blossomed at Villarreal and Fiorentina. The 30-year-old, currently on loan at Celta Vigo, has been capped 30 times by Italy.
LEFT FORWARD: Simone Padoin
Full international recognition has evaded Padoin but he was part of the all-conquering Juventus side which won five consecutive Serie A titles, before moving to Cagliari last summer.
CENTRE FORWARD: Giampaolo Pazzini
Pazzini's eye-catching hat-trick at Wembley was the forerunner for a successful career in Italy. Now plying his trade for Verona, he has been capped 25 times at senior level and has taken his Serie A appearances tally to over 400.
Substitutes
Graziano Pelle
Took the Premier League by storm when he arrived at Southampton in 2014, which yielded the first of 20 senior caps. Signed a lucrative deal with Chinese club Shandong Luneng last summer.
Emiliano Viviano
Currently at Sampdoria, goalkeeper Viviano progressed through the ranks before receiving the first of six senior call-ups in 2010. Failed to make an appearance during a brief loan spell at Arsenal.
Andrea Coda
Yet to break into the senior ranks, centre-back Coda has spent the majority of his career in Serie A, where he now plays for Pescara.
Arturo Lupoli
The Arsenal youth product failed to make the cut with Gunners, or progress to the senior side. The journeyman, who played for Derby and Sheffield United, is now plying his trade way down the Italian leagues with Sudtirol.
Raffaele De Martino
Career has stagnated since joining Paganese in 2012.
Daniele Dessena
Won the Serie B title with Cagliari in 2016 in the season after they dropped out of the top-flight. Helped Italy win the 2008 Toulon tournament, but has yet to receive a senior call.
Andrea Raggi
The centre-back has been overlooked for senior caps since the Wembley opener but that could be about to change after his development at Monaco, where he has made 130 Ligue 1 appearances.
Domenico Criscito
Capped 22 times by Italy, Criscito has enjoyed success in Russia, winning two titles and three cups with Zenit since joining 2011.
Andrea Lazzari
Despite playing for Atalanta, Cagliari, Fiorentina and Udinese in Serie A, Lazzari is another whose career has taken a downturn, with the 32-year-old now playing in Serie B for Pisa.
Gabriele Paonessa
Has been without a club since his co-ownership deal with Parma was terminated in 2012, despite being under contract until June 2017.