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Sixteen years and two unrelated substitutes named Torres separate Spain's last two World Cup–winning goals. The gap between them explains this team better than either goal does on its own. Thirty-nine seconds into the second period of extra time, a loose ball dropped awkwardly in the Argentina box, and Ferran Torres didn't wait for it to bounce twice. One touch, left foot, off the underside of the bar. MetLife Stadium came apart. Somewhere behind him, Lionel Messi turned away

The teams that made it to the final four in the 2026 World Cup had one thing in common: their best players didn't always start. It was a lesson learned the hard way. At some point during the 2026 World Cup knockout rounds, something funny happened to the sport. Goals from substitutes. Matches turned by players who began the game on the bench. Teams that looked ordinary for 60 minutes and dangerous for the final 30. The pattern kept repeating, and by the time the semi-finals