Interesting Facts about The Remote-Controlled Car at Euro 2020

Jenny Lee June 12, 2021 | 21:36

Euro 2020 executives have made the baffling decision to have the football delivered onto the pitch via a remote-controlled car. A Remote-Controlled Car Delivered The Match Ball Before Italy vs Turkey And It's Incredible.

The car was sponsored by VW and also featured a Euro 2020 badge

After a stunning opening ceremony, the whole of Europe was desperate to see the tournament of Euro 2020 kick off after a year's delay they were then forced to wait as the mini motor made its way to the centre circle.

As fans dusted off their goosebumps after Andrea Bocelli's incredible rendition of Nessun Dorma, a Volkswagen-branded remote control car scurried across the Stadio Olimpico to deliver a match ball for the opening game of Euro 2020.

It was an utterly bizarre, but hilarious scene ahead of Italy's clash against Turkey on Friday night.

Italy have dominated in the early stages against Şenol Güneş' side, and the home side would have been in front had it not been for a wonderful stop from Turkey goalkeeper Uğurcan Çakır in the opening minutes after a powerful Giorgio Chiellini header.

That being said, the main topic of conversation has been that remote control car. Social media goes crazy as a remote-controlled CAR delivers the matchball for Italy and Turkey's Euro 2020 opener.

But the Italian opera singer was rivalled in terms of entertainment by a small Volkswagen car bringing the ball onto the pitch with both teams waiting at either end for the small vehicle to reach referee Danny Makkelie - which left fans bemused online.

Interesting Facts about The Remote-Controlled Car at Euro 2020

Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini appeared to be laughing when the car appeared

The respective captains had taken part in the coin toss with the referee in the centre circle they were forced to wait for the matchball to be delivered.

And it was brought onto the field in quite the unique fashion - via remote control car made by tournament sponsors VW.

One fan tweeted: "That’s it, the tournament has peaked, someone managed to create a dumb remote control sponsored car for the ball."

"Andrea Bocelli's gorgeous rendition of Nessun Dorma, forever tarnished by someone deciding the match ball should be taken on by a remote control car a few minutes later," one Twitter account remarked.

And it's not the first time sponsorships have been involved in delivering a ball.

As part of their ongoing sponsorship of Ligue 1, Uber Eats have a delivery driver enter the pitch on a moped to mimic a food delivery with the football.

One person wrote: “They had the footy in a little remote control car hahaha modern football is good now.”

Another tweeted: “WTF was the story with the remote control car taking the ball to the kick off?”

As a fellow viewer commented: “Some poor ceremonies volunteers entire job was to drive that remote control car to the centre circle and back.”

And another wrote: “I like that UEFA has tried to unite the warring factions of football and racism around the consensus that the remote control car to deliver the ball is really stupid.”

Meanwhile, some English supporters are desperate to see it become the norm in the Premier League.

One said: “Can the remote control car continue in the Premier League next season? Superb idea.”

Ahead of the hugely-anticipated curtain-raiser between Turkey and Italy, opera tenor Andrea Bocelli took centre stage on the field in Rome.

Bocelli, who became blind at the age of 12, produced a magical rendition of the famous Nessun Dorma.

Majestic dancers accompanied the music while fireworks ignited on top of the stadium as the song reached its crescendo.

Those lucky enough to be inside the stadium and undoubtedly viewers watching at home sat in silence listening to Bocelli's voice ring around the Stadio Olimpico.

For others, it was a throwback to Italia 90 when the late great Luciano Pavarotti belted out the anthem at the World Cup trophy presentation.

Volkswagen was trending on Twitter by kick-off as fans continued to be amazed by the incredible pre-match stunt.

The car manufacturers are one of the sponsors at this summer's European Championships, which will be taking place across 11 cities.

Volskwagen's slogan for the tournament is 'We Drive Football' which added a further element of humour during the Stadio Olimpico stunt.