The Real Quiz – Substitutions
A substitute can make all the difference in a game of football. It can inspire an attacking finish to a match, sure up any defensive frailty to protect a slender lead, or simply knock a few extra seconds of the clock. Whatever the situation, they really can make an impact. See if you can answer these 20 questions based on some memorable ‘substitution’ moments.
Good Luck.
Questions
1. Which player has scored the most goals in a single game after coming off the bench as a substitute?
2. In Diego Maradona’s final club game for Boca Juniors, who replaced him as a sub at half-time?
3. Which player has been subbed-off the most times in Premier League history?
4. Who were the 2 players that came on as a substitute for Manchester United in the 1999 Champions League final?
5. Which Premier League goalkeeper has been subbed-off the most in the leagues history?
6. In Jose Mourinho’s first competitive game in charge of Manchester United, which player got subbed on in the 63rd minute, and back off in the 90th?
7. Which Liverpool player came off the bench in the infamous 2019 2nd leg against Barcelona, and scored 2 goals in the comeback night?
8. In January 2019, which player became La Liga’s top-scorer from the bench in the 21st century?
9. Which player has made the most Premier League appearances as a substitute?
10. Who were Chelsea’s opposition in their Carabao Cup Final match, in which goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga refused to leave the pitch as a substitute?
11. Which player had been prepared to replace Kepa Arrizabalaga in that aforementioned match?
12. Which former Manchester City manager made the suprising tactical substitution of bringing a midfielder off, being replaced by a goalkeeper so that their current keeper could play up front for the last few minutes?
13. In 2019, which Arsenal player was stripped of his captaincy role after shouting f*** off towards his own supporters while being subbed off?
14. Which manager allegedly brought on a fan from the crowd as a substitute after consistently berating the gaffer during a friendly against Oxford?
15. During the 2014 World Cup quarter final between the Netherlands and Costa Rica, which goalkeeper came on as a sub in extra-time to become their penalty shootout hero?
16. In the aforementioned quarter final, which goalkeeper was subbed off?
17. During a pre-season game against LA Galaxy, which striker was replaced after just 31 minutes, after he attempted an audacious backheel shot?
18. Who came on as a sub in the 2014 World Cup final, and bagged the winning goal in the 113th minute?
19. Which player holds the record for the quickest Premier League red card, sent off just a few seconds after coming on as a sub for Sheffield United against Reading?
20. Which former Manchester City player was allegedly fined £500,000 and suspended for 2 weeks after appearing to refuse to come on as a substitute in a Champions League tie?
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Answers
1. Ole Gunnar Solskjær (Hailed as the ultimate ‘super sub’, the Baby-faced Assassin was certainly at the wheel as he knocked in 4 goals against Nottingham Forest, despite only coming on in the 72nd minute).
2. Juan Román Riquelme (In what was seemingly a passing of the torch for Argentinian football, or at least for Boca, one of football’s ultimate and elite icons left the field and his playing career behind in 1997. In replace of the great man, a future Boca legend was to emerge).
3. Ryan Giggs (With 134 substitutions in 632 Premier League appearances, Giggs holds the record for the most substitutions off in the leagues history. Given his on-field performances, this may be quite surprising, however as he is the leagues 2nd highest appearance maker he was certainly bound to have been hauled off many times).
4. Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjær (That infamous night in Barcelona, and the 90+1 and 90+3 era defining goals came from the bench as Sheringham and Solskjær were introduced to the field at the 67th and 81st minute respectively. The rest as they say, is history).
5. Thomas Sørensen (With 13 substitutions from 364 Premier League appearances, the former Sunderland, Villa and Stoke keeper holds one of footballs most unusual records. As a keeper, being brought off as a sub is never a positive thought as it’s primarily due to an injury or in very unfortunate circumstances, due to a poor performance).
6. Juan Mata (In the 2016 Community Shield, it appeared as though Mata and Mourinho wouldn’t be a great combination as they reunited at United. However, things were clearly patched up fairly quickly as the Spaniard maintained a starting spot in the 11 during some key games throughout Mourinho’s tenure. And even more respect should be given to Mata who outlasted the ‘Special One’ at Old Trafford).
7. Georginio (Gini) Wijnaldum (One of Liverpool’s most memorable European nights, and the infamous “corner taken quickly” moment from Origi against Barcelona. However, quite underrated from that night was the 2-minute brace from Wijnaldum who was brought on in the 2nd half and lead the comeback charge for Liverpool).
8. Lionel Messi (Okay, if you’re ever answering a question about goalscorers in La Liga, it’s pretty much gonna be this man. But it’s still suprising to think of Messi as anything other than the first name on the team sheet. It certainly takes a brave manager to leave the greatest player of all time (my opinion) on the bench, however when called upon he has certainly delivered).
9. Peter Crouch (The Premier League journeyman has had his fair share of Premier League clubs, and appearances. However, with 157 of his appearances coming from the bench, he has been well regarded as a massive gamechanger. The definition of going ‘route one’ is bringing on Crouch as a sub and lumping the ball up for him to head on towards goal).
10. Manchester City (In one of the most bizarre player/manager exchanges, Sarri appeared to be playing the assistant manager role to his keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, who decided he wasn’t going to leave the field despite his managers decision. In the end Chelsea lost the final to City on penalties. We can only assume what would have happened if Kepa had come off).
11. Willy Caballero (Poor old Willy. Stuck between a Kepa and a Sarri place, as he doesn’t know if hes coming or going. At least he had a nice day out to Wembley).
12. Stuart Pearce (Football managers have made some strange decisions to try and outwit and surprise the opposition, however replacing a midfielder with a keeper so that current goalkeeper David James could go up front to try and bag a goal that his side needed for European qualification, is undoubtedly the weirdest).
13. Granit Xhaka (Arguing with your own fans as a footballer is never a good idea. Granit Xhaka however decided to stand his ground against the 60,000 fans in attendance, despite having just been given a captaincy role by Emery. Nowadays, all seems to have been forgiven and forgotten, so fair play Granit).
14. Harry Redknapp (In one of footballs most well-loved folk tales, Redknapp took issue with the consistent complaining from the stands during the pre-season friendly and gave a run out to Steve Davies, a fan of the Hammers who fullfield the fantasy of fans around the world by being brought out of the stands to play up front for your beloved club, and even nabbing a goal).
15. Tim Krul (It takes some serious confidence to make a goalkeeping change seconds before a penalty shootout in a World Cup quarter final, but Louis Van Gaal and Tim Krul took the risk and it paid off, as the replacement number 1 went the correct way on each penalty in the shootout, leading the Dutch side to the semi-final, where they lost (on penalties) to Argentina).
16. Jasper Cillessen (The former Ajax, now Valencia keeper was the slightly unfortunate man who was replaced on the famous World Cup night. Although, after his nation made it through the fixture, his disappointment was surely short lived. At least until the semi-final, when it was his turn between the sticks for the shootout with Argentina, which they lost after misses from Vlaar and Sneijder).
17. Mario Balotelli (Balotelli is a man known for moments of flair and exuberance, and he brought that to the USA in City’s pre-season game against LA Galaxy. After claiming to have heard the referee’s whistle, he attempted a weak backheeled shot in front of goal, which ultimately cost City a goal, and Balotelli got a swift exit from the field).
18. Mario Götze (Over 1 billion people tuned in to watch the 2014 World Cup final, which appeared to be heading to penalties. That was until the 113th minute, when Mario Götze scored the games only goal. Despite only coming on in the 88th minute, Götze claimed the winner and took home the man of the match award for his efforts. Not bad for 30 minutes work).
19. Keith Gillespie (Gillespie may as well not have bothered lacing up his boots or putting his shinpads on, as he was on and off before Sheffield United had even been able to take their throw-in. Technically lasting zero seconds on-field, it’s another unusual record, but I’m sure Gillespie will take it).
20. Carlos Tevez (Another Manchester City substitution moment as Tevez infamously refused to warm up and prepare to come on as a substitute against Bayern in the Champions League. Although Tevez came out to counter these claims, instead saying he simply didn’t feel “right to play”, the pairing of Mancini and Tevez never truly recovered).