I'm injured, rolling around on the grass, one hand on my shin, the other furiously waving at the bench that I need to be taken off. But the physio has come on, in his tracksuit and carrying his sponge and bottle of water, followed by the doctor in his suit. They both tell me that we have used three subs already, so can I suck it up and sort of look useful? If we go to extra time we can take advantage of the new rule allowing a fourth sub, but until then...can you walk?
So I'll soldier on. What the hell? What's one day amongst 1000.
Did you know that the first substitution in a World Cup qualifying match happened in 1954? Horst Eckel of Germany was replaced by Richard Gottinger in a match against Saarland. (This was the only time that the region of Saarland, at the time occupied by France participated on its own in a World Cup before returning to join West Germany).
The first substitution allowed in a World Cup finals was in 1970. The Soviet Union brought on Anatoliy Puzac for Serebrannikov.
And if there are any spelling errors here today, I blame the lack of rule for the allowance of a substitute countdown-er. The international association may be hearing about this.
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