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Pool via REUTERS
Wonder what the biggest comeback of all was at Euro 2020? Well, it turned out to be the tiny car that delivered the match ball.
It reappeared ahead of the Spain versus Italy semi-final on Tuesday, plus England’s semi-final with Denmark, and also the final between England and Italy – and the internet is raving about it
People were very glad to see it back. These are just some of the latest reactions to the now-iconic car.
The car is back and I got time for it— Joel, just Joel (@Joel, just Joel) 1625598017
Dreams do come true.... The car is back! https://t.co/5VtPKHRAbV— Simpsons England (@Simpsons England) 1625598386
THE CAR IS BACK! https://t.co/FLTMM8hgHE— Paddy Power (@Paddy Power) 1625598032
THE CAR IS BACK! GET IN!— Graham (@Graham) 1625598025
THE CAR IS BACK LETS GOOO 😂😂— joe 🏴🇸🇱 (@joe 🏴🇸🇱) 1625598016
THE CAR IS BACK ALL HAIL THE CAR— JBO (@JBO) 1625598023
The car is back from the detailer and it is so CLEAN! Children are no longer allowed in my car. They can walk to d… https://t.co/r9bBEvQ26w— Sophie K, but festive (@Sophie K, but festive) 1625362714
There was pandemonium after England took an early lead in the final thanks to a Luke Shaw goal. Maybe the Little Car had an impact?
Downside of the early goal? It's utterly stolen the little car's thunder. #JusticeForTheLittleCar #ENG #ITA… https://t.co/fffBxBorPN— FourFourTwo (@FourFourTwo) 1626030996
Lorenzo Insigne should be allowed to enter the pitch on the little Volkswagen car like he’s Stuart Little— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) 1626029170
‘Is it raining? I hadn’t noticed’ #EURO2020 https://t.co/gVKchw1jdG— Sophie Hall (@Sophie Hall) 1626028027
Kyle Walker could chase down the little car— Vithushan Ehantharajah (@Vithushan Ehantharajah) 1625688970
But who is driving the car?
https://t.co/HJ3Yff2hJo— Tokyo Sexwhale (@Tokyo Sexwhale) 1626030643
The tiny car first emerged in June as Italy took on Turkey.
The Italians would be comfortable 3-0 winners on the night but it took them until the second half to break the Turks down, with an unfortunate own goal from Merih Demiral opening the scoring.
Before that, all anyone could really talk about was the tiny remote-controlled car that whisked the ball onto the pitch for kick-off at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome and almost overshadowed Andrea Bocelli’s spectacular rendition of Nessun Dorma.
The tiny car drove onto the pitch with the ball inside it and gave it to referee Danny Makkelie.
Mpira ulivyopelekwa katikati ya uwanja kuanzisha mechi ya Uturuki vs Italy kwenye Euro 2020 ikiwa ni ubunifu na tan… https://t.co/VtLTc3Xb83— millardayo (@millardayo) 1623439735
Viewers were left instantly bemused by what they had just seen, including England women’s international Lianne Sanderson who wanted this to become a regular feature.
Am I the only one that wants that little car that brought out the ball ⚽️ 🤣 #EURO2020 #tur #ita— Lianne Sanderson (@Lianne Sanderson) 1623438368
WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE https://t.co/JKxACJsJRN— Europe's Leading Soccer Futurologist (@Europe's Leading Soccer Futurologist) 1623438061
Utterly pointless. I loved it. #Euros2020 https://t.co/hcVlbOdtkS— Scott Bryan (@Scott Bryan) 1623438354
@OptaJoe The little car's first half heatmap, please.— Jonny Sharples (@Jonny Sharples) 1623441638
Has this been... the most exciting thing so far? #Euro2020 #TUR #ITA https://t.co/ncEFclRUKH— FourFourTwo (@FourFourTwo) 1623440947
Absolutely GONE at this remote control car. Gone. I love football. So much.— 🇬🇭 Carl Anka 🇬🇭 (@🇬🇭 Carl Anka 🇬🇭) 1623438027
the match ball being taken out on a tiny remote control car? the Euros have peaked already.— 🧚♀️ fairy liquid soap 🧼 (@🧚♀️ fairy liquid soap 🧼) 1623438099
Oh my god I haven’t been arsed about the euros but seeing that car drop the footy off like it was an Uber order has… https://t.co/E7yqkXveCq— Rob Morley (@Rob Morley) 1623438144
As an ardent pro-pedestrian, pro-cyclist, pro-public transport enthusiast, I must come out vehemently against the E… https://t.co/fvdt0L6yz3— The Poisonous Euros Atmosphere Fan (@The Poisonous Euros Atmosphere Fan) 1623481157
Excuse me, a LITTLE CAR brought the Euros football into the Euros football match? Why was this not a BBC Breaking notification??!!— Sophie Hall (@Sophie Hall) 1623443489
Sure enough, memes of the car started to flood the internet.
https://t.co/iq7lHETLrN— Jonny Sharples (@Jonny Sharples) 1623445421
https://t.co/5q5apljsrM— Europe's Leading Soccer Futurologist (@Europe's Leading Soccer Futurologist) 1623439130
https://t.co/dTo2KqZf1K— WWE SPFL 🤼♂️⚽️ (@WWE SPFL 🤼♂️⚽️) 1623444612
“I said hop in.” https://t.co/iwT4h9WIJq— Shutts (@Shutts) 1623439575
Recap of that first half #Euro2020 https://t.co/D4LvjTdiqF— Vithushan Ehantharajah (@Vithushan Ehantharajah) 1623440971
https://t.co/BKh9K9N2lk— Sam Jordan (@Sam Jordan) 1623441466
https://t.co/uITGm5czz2— Jonny Sharples (@Jonny Sharples) 1623438395
Heat map for that little car #TURITA https://t.co/vRuPJ9PCDT— Jon Alagoa 💙 (@Jon Alagoa 💙) 1623438832
dya remember the little remote controlled car at the start of the euros? eh? what were that about? calling it euro2… https://t.co/c6fEHxRizH— stephen (@stephen) 1623445584
No way has the VW Electric Car made more Key Passes (1) than Paul Pogba (0) in the euros 🤬🤬 https://t.co/iSUmZvLQfS— leon (@leon) 1623438446
Still, it might have some way to go before it can beat the DHL delivery of the match ball that happened in the Indian Super League.
The remote control car at the Euros is still behind the Indian Super League’s DHL ball delivery IMHO https://t.co/pgONrMQuHm— Simon Peach (@Simon Peach) 1623440233
The car was obviously part of the tournament’s sponsorship deal with Volkswagen who are one of the sponsors of this year’s competition which is taken place across 11 different European cities.
Volkswagen’s slogan for the tournament is ‘We Drive Football.’ Will we be seeing the little car at more matches? We can only hope so.