How many substitutions are allowed at World Cup 2022? Subs rule, how big squads are and England’s best bench
You can almost hear the calls for various substitutes now. England have Iran, Wales and the USA for company in Group B at the World Cup, and despite being favourites to progress, it is unlikely to be an easy ride into the knockouts.
Be it chasing goals or defending leads, England manager Gareth Southgate will look to draw on his bench for inspiration, and for the first time at a World Cup he is able to bring on five players after football rule-makers IFAB approved the permanent switch to the increased number of substitutes in June.
This was also the case at Euro 2020, where Southgate used five substitutes three times when the increase was temporarily implemented due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
In the first two instances, against Czech Republic in the groups and Ukraine in the quarter-finals, England were looking to preserve their advantage, and so Jordan Henderson was the first player to come off the bench on both occasions.
Southgate then used all five subs in the final against Italy. Few will need reminding of how that played out, with Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford coming on in the 120th minute before missing their penalties in the shootout.
Of course, Southgate will be hoping to avoid such eventualities in Qatar, but as he settles on his starting XI for the opening game against Iran, he will also be pondering his best options from the bench after naming his 26-man squad on Thursday.
Here’s where Southgate could turn…
England vs Iran
Predicted starting XI vs Iran (3-4-3): Pickford; Maguire, Dier, Stones; Trippier, Bellingham, Rice, Shaw; Foden, Kane, Sterling
The creative sparks
The clamour to start Jack Grealish throughout Euro 2020 rarely quietened, and the Manchester City forward could have company this time around in Leicester’s James Maddison.
Should the pair not start then they will likely be the most called for substitutes if England are struggling to break their opponents down, as they represent Southgate’s best creative options on the bench.
Last year, Grealish was an unused substitute in the opening 1-0 win over Croatia at the European Championships, and despite pundits and fans alike calling for him to play a greater role, he only came on for the final half-hour of the 0-0 draw with Scotland.
This cameo led to a start against Czech Republic in the final group game, but in the knockouts he was back on the bench – coming on for every match bar the quarter-final win over Ukraine.
Heading to Qatar, Grealish could find himself in a similar position, although Maddison’s much-heralded goals and assists contributions in the Premier League since the start of 2021-22 (second among England players with 30 to Harry Kane’s 38) could make Leicester’s star the go-to substitute instead. And if he’s left on the bench, expect to see his name trending throughout matches, just like Grealish’s was at Euro 2020.
See also: Trent Alexander-Arnold. The Liverpool defender was not a certainty to make the plane in the long-term build-up the announcement, but Reece James’ injury meant his eventual inclusion in the squad was not too much of a surprise. With Kieran Trippier likely to start the England defender will most likely be on the bench, so expect the cameras to cut to him and the debate to continue. If England are chasing a goal, there is a strong case to suggest he should be on the pitch.
The finisher
With captain Harry Kane a sure-fire starter when fit, the other centre-forwards picked by Southgate know their role – that of back-up.
It is arguably the reason why Jamie Vardy ended his England career early. There is simply no displacing Kane in the starting XI, and so at Qatar 2022 it is Callum Wilson who will be patiently biding his time and hoping to take his chances.
The Newcastle striker got the nod over Ivan Toney despite having scored two fewer goals in the Premier League this season, six to the Brentford forward’s eight, and if England find themselves needing a goal in the final 20 or 30 minutes he will be itching to come on and prove a point.
Wilson has four caps to his name and one international goal, having last played for England in 2019. He will be aware that the spotlight may not shine on him immediately, but the pressure will be on should Southgate ever need to turn to him.
He will also have competition from Marcus Rashford in this regard, with the Manchester United forward is coming into form at the right time and proving a worthy challenger to Cristiano Ronaldo for United’s No. 9 role.
England’s knockout subs at Euro 2020
Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho came on in the 120th minute of the Euro 2020 final (Photo: Getty)
This could dictate whether the two players flanking Kane are wider or more central, but Southgate knows he has options to switch it up.
Both Rashford and Bukayo Saka are the obvious choices for width, assuming he starts Foden and Sterling, while joining Maddison and even Grealish in the fight more a more central role will be Mason Mount – assuming he does not start.
Shore up the defence
If Southgate does opt for three at the back, then Kyle Walker – whose fitness remains a doubt heading into the group stages – Conor Coady and Ben White are likely the centre-back options on the bench.
Whether Southgate wants to disrupt his defence, however, remains to be seen. He played Walker, John Stones and Harry Maguire in a back three against Italy in the Euro 2020 final, and only brought off Walker in the 120th minute. In the extra-time win over Denmark in the semis, his starting defence played the entire 120 minutes, so too all 90 minutes against Germany in the last 16.
He is therefore more likely to bring on defensive midfielders when defending a lead. Jordan Henderson is the obvious candidate, as is Kalvin Phillips, and it could be a straight swap for Rice or Bellingham in order to keep the midfield fresh.
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