Steven Davis and Alvaro Morata first to perform one-man kick-offs at Euro 2016

During the Copa America we've seen some one-man kick-offs after the kick-off rules were changed pre-tournament allowing the ball to go in any direction During the Copa America we've seen some one-man kick-offs after the kick-off rules were changed pre-tournament allowing the ball to go in any direction

Northern Ireland and Spain have become two of the first teams to implement the new one-man kick-off tactic after new International Football Association Board rules coincided with the start of Euro 2016.

Of the seven law alterations, which came in force on June 1, the most eye-catching proposal says the ball doesn't have to go forward from kick-off, meaning teams no longer need two players to start and restart games.

And Northern Ireland were the first team at this summer's European Championship to take advantage of the rule change as captain Steven Davis single-handedly kicked off his nation's first appearance at a major tournament since 1986.

Following Michael O'Neill's side's 1-0 defeat to Poland in Nice, defending champions Spain followed suit as striker Alvaro Morata kicked the game against the Czech Republic off alone.

Steven Davis kicked Northern Ireland's Euro 2016 campaign off alone

The benefits of one-man kick-offs are yet to be established, but that hasn't stopped sides across the globe trying their hand at the new rule, with the Copa America bearing witness to the IFAB's rule change.

Both Panama and Argentina implemented the new rule in their Group D encounter in Chicago, which Argentina won 5-0 in part to a Lionel Messi hat-trick.

Alvaro Morata followed in Davis' footsteps, kicking Spain's campaign off against the Czech Republic

And then Chile followed in their South American rivals' footsteps, with one player kicking their 2-1 victory over Bolivia off in Massachusetts.