The super sub is not a new role in football, David Fairclough was changing the game off the bench before all of the players at this year’s World Cup were even twinkles in their parents’ eyes.
Of course now, the 1970s Liverpool cult hero would be a known as a “finisher”, and Switzerland were grateful to have two of those for their Group B win over Bosnia and Herzegovina, a five-goal affair that packed 90 minutes’ worth of action into a chaotic final quarter of an hour.
Elsewhere, South Africa kept their hopes of reaching the knockout stages alive with a draw against the Czech Republic, Brazil announced Neymar was still injured and German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer said he was retiring, again.
Canada, meanwhile, are 3-0 up at half-time against Qatar courtesy of a Jonathan David brace, and Cyle Larin, who came off the bench to score against Bosnia and Herzegovina but has started this time around. There might be a lesson in there somewhere.
Canada on the brink
Canada have never been beyond the group stages of the World Cup, they are 45 minutes from changing all that, and barring a miraculous turnaround can start planning for what comes next.