A remote-controlled Volkswagen brought the ball to the centre circle for kick-off as Turkey took on Italy in Friday’s Euro 2020 opening match.
Roberto Mancini’s Italian side won 3-0 at the Stadio Olimpico to get off to a flyer in Group A, and there were eye-catching scenes during the build-up.
https://twitter.com/CapitalChambo/status/1403427658139119618
After famous opera tenor Andrea Bocelli had performed “Nessun Dorma”, a tiny car whizzed onto the pitch carrying the match ball for the occasion.
These were the best jokes and tweets about this particular sponsorship stunt:
The car touched the ball more times than Turkey did tonight
— Kurt (@Kurt0411Fifa) June 11, 2021
Match ball delivered by remote control car??????? Who’s driving it #EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/oOhR6ZidP9
— ᴀʟʙʏ ʟᴀᴅ (@ALBY_LAD) June 11, 2021
— Out Of Context Football (@nocontextfooty) June 12, 2021
— ITALIA '92 TRUTHER (@TreborRhurbarb) June 11, 2021
https://twitter.com/Louis_Beneventi/status/1403427477867962369
Possession Italy 90%, Turkey 3%, Car 7% #Euro2020 pic.twitter.com/Jev6rQWDov
— Jake Chester Holden (@ChesterToad) June 11, 2021
The history books will simply say the ball was delivered by tiny car, everything else will be a footnote. pic.twitter.com/2dblHRR3Dq
— Tom Whyman (@HealthUntoDeath) June 11, 2021
'and is "tiny car who drove the ball on to the pitch" in the room with us right now?' pic.twitter.com/1s23By6Tse
— Ross Sayers (@Sayers33) June 11, 2021
“provided us with the moment of the tournament so far” <- tiny car erasure
— edie (@multiplebears) June 11, 2021
Nice of insigne to allow his car to bring the ball to the referee pic.twitter.com/c93KaJrGd0
— Matt ball (@mattball22) June 11, 2021
‘That ball in a car? Terrific little player’ pic.twitter.com/irM3JrOqey
— Big Chaza (@BigChaza04) June 12, 2021
Football In A Tiny Car to the tune of Owner Of A Lonely Heart pic.twitter.com/U3V3nK2c07
— The Devil has many bollocks, my friend (@LeonardEctric1) June 11, 2021
Volkswagen: How do we get the world back on side after dieselgate?
Hungover intern: I’ve got an idea… pic.twitter.com/PstiTKhwo6
— Stefan Bienkowski (@SBienkowski) June 11, 2021
https://twitter.com/kxsmo/status/1403427231502798849
Jesus, Mary, Joseph and the wee Volkswagen pic.twitter.com/9WdXnGQLTI
— Jan Harvey (@TheJanHarvey) June 11, 2021