The Crucial Role of Substitutes in World Cup 2026: Gündogan’s Prediction Rings True

Deniz Undav is one of many top super-subs at this World Cup. Will incoming players ultimately decide the tournament?

Deniz Undav is the talk of the town. The international press celebrates Germany’s ‘super sub’, and while there’s an excited debate at home about whether the top joker shouldn’t even start, the goalscorer, who vigorously pushed for a starting spot in the spring, seems to be increasingly coming to terms with his role. They have «a common goal,» and if it’s working so well right now?

In any case, Undav is the super joker among several stars who have repeatedly decided games after coming on as substitutes in the expanded World Cup, whether it be Johan Manzambi, Marcus Rashford, or Helio Valera from Cape Verde. Could the title ultimately be won by a team whose coach can pull the best aces out of their sleeve? It wouldn’t be the first time in World Cup history.

German football fans still have the most important joker goal in recent history clearly in their minds. It was the 113th minute when Mario Götze, who had only just been brought into the game, famously scored Germany’s World Cup title after a cross from the also-substituted Andre Schürrle. In 2014, the most goals were scored by jokers in World Cup history (32) anyway, and this record is likely to be surpassed in this year’s 104 matches.

Wayne Rooney is Enthusiastic: ‘I Love These Substitutions’

Due to the increased physical demands in an era of additional or inflated competitions, jokers could be «more important than ever before» with five possible substitutions, the former DFB captain Ilkay Gündogan speculated before the start of the World Cup. So far, he has been proven right. Manzambi and Ruben Vargas came off the bench and brought late joy to the Swiss against Bosnia-Herzegovina (4-1). Cape Verde’s Varela scored the equalizer (2-2, 1-2 down) against Uruguay just three minutes after being substituted.

Even Thomas Tuchel, who may have been inspired by the concept of ‘finishers’ in rugby, was praised by Wayne Rooney for his ‘gambler’ mentality. «I love these substitutions,» the England icon gushed. The team manager had made bold changes: Buyako Saka, Morgan Rogers, and Rashford, who provided the late decider in the 4-2 win against Croatia, came into the game. The motto: When the opponent is tired and concentration wanes, the hour of the substitutes strikes.

Tuchel also pointed out the tightrope walk that many coaches face with their stars. Every professional – including Undav – wants to play from the start, but «this quality» is needed from the bench, he said. For some, the role is new, but it is «a very special time, and they identify with the idea that we can achieve it as a team.»

The Best World Cup Jokers: Deniz Undav Equals Roger Milla

Substitutions were introduced at the 1970 World Cup. At that time, Jürgen Grabowski made a name for himself as the «best substitute in the world»; in the meantime, Uruguay’s Richard Morales scored the fastest World Cup joker goal after 16 seconds (2002). And while David Odonkor and Oliver Neuville truly kicked off the «Summer Fairytale» in 2006, Italy’s Alessandro Del Piero ended it after his substitution in the semi-final.

Roger Milla set a milestone, standing out in 1990 with five joker assists for Cameroon. Undav needed 56 minutes to draw level. «That’s great for him right now,» said Julian Nagelsmann about Undav’s role, «you can’t be much more of a decider than he is. Why should I break his flow now?» Nevertheless, the national coach assured that a starting appearance for the Stuttgart player «is not ruled out.»

Winners of the Last Ten World Cups