Euro 2020 opens with a bang! Andrea Bocelli performs a stirring rendition of 'Nessun Dorma', fireworks light up the Rome sky and Italian legends Francesco Totti and Alessandro Nesta soak in the atmosphere before kick off against Turkey

• The opening ceremony of Euro 2020 took place at the Stadio Olimpico
• Andrea Bocelli delivered a stirring rendition of Nessun Dorma in Rome 
• There were giant coloured footballs as well as drummers suspended from ropes
• Italy legends Francesco Totti and Alessandro Nesta held a loft a ball at the start 

Euro 2020 was launched in emphatic style on Friday night with a stunning opening ceremony that included plenty of artistic flair before Italy defeated Turkey 3-0 in the opening game.

The highlight was a stirring rendition of Nessun Dorma, one of football's most famous songs, by Italian opera tenor Andrea Bocelli. 

But the song used as the BBC's theme music for the 1990 World Cup in Italy came amid a magnificent fireworks display to light up the night sky, and incredible noise made by the 16,000 fans who had been permitted inside the Stadio Olimpico.

Giant multicoloured footballs as well as drummers suspended from ropes from the roof of the stadium were also involved in the opening acts, as the flags of the 24 nations competing at Euro 2020 were unfurled to a rock soundtrack. 

There was also a performance of the official UEFA song We Are The People by the likes of U2 stars Bono and The Edge and DJ Martin Garrix appearing via a video link. 

The opening ceremony began with Italy 2006 World Cup winners Francesco Totti and Alessandro Nesta - who are distinguished figures from Roma and Lazio, who play their club football at the stadium - holding aloft a ball in the middle of the pitch.

The Italy duo - who won the 2006 World Cup - however did not ultimately deliver the ball which Roberto Mancini's side used to kick proceedings off against the Turks in Rome, with a remote-control car used to take it to the centre circle.

But the ceremony no doubt belonged to Bocelli, who also performed the song at Leicester's Premier League title party in 2016, in an emotional performance in front of a vibrant, albeit sparse, crowd.

Bocelli sang as fireworks went off in the background of his performance and a female dancer attached to large helium balloons was floating above.

The Stadio Olimpico was almost at the maximum capacity of 16,000 - around 25 per cent full - allowed in Italy for the opening match between the home side and Senol Gunes' men.

Fans were mixed throughout the stadium, but most of the Turkey fans were in the northern end of the stadium, while Italy fans were sat mainly at the opposite side of the ground. 

However, the reduction in attendances is due to the restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic across Europe, with most of the matches at the tournament - being played in 11 cities -  set to follow a similar pattern. 

Goals from Ciro Immobile and Lorenzo Insigne, plus Merih Demiral's own goal, handed Italy a comfortable 3-0 win in the Group A encounter.