Harry Winks and Harry Maguire both made their international debuts last night, as Gareth Southgate rang the changes for an eminently forgettable 1-0 win over Lithuania. On an individual level, it will be a landmark moment in their careers, something to look back fondly on and regale their grandchildren with one day. For everyone else, it was just another drab qualifier.
Mercifully, not every debut is quite as grimly uneventful. Others have won a first cap for their country in far more memorable circumstances, and here are just a handful. For better or worse, these five won’t forget their experience in a hurry.
Lionel Messi – Hungary v Argentina, 2005
Quite possibly the best footballer there has ever been, Messi is associated with devastating dribbling skills and outrageous goalscoring feats rather than indiscipline or acts of violence. An incredibly placid character, he’s only once been shown a red card. It just so happened to be on his first appearance for Argentina.
Aged 18, Messi came on for Lisandro Lopez in the 63rd minute of a friendly against Hungary. Within forty seconds he was heading back down the tunnel. After receiving the ball in the middle of the opposition half he set off on a run towards goal. Looking to brush off the attentions of Vilmos Vanczak, a flailing hand caught the defender across the face. Messi was harshly sent off and supposedly found in tears back in the dressing room.
Serge Gnabry – San Marino v Germany, 2016
The former Arsenal youngster never quite made his breakthrough at the Emirates despite some promising appearances during the 2013-14 season. The livewire winger subsequently returned to Germany last year, joining Werder Bremen for £5million on the final day of the summer transfer window.
Gnabry’s positive start to life in the Bundesliga resulted in a call-up to the German national team. Seven days later he scored a hat-trick on his debut against Group C whipping boys San Marino. There was a half-hour cameo in a friendly with Italy but he hasn’t played for the senior team since then. Now on loan at Hoffenheim from Bayern Munich, he will be hoping to force his way into Joachim Low’s World Cup squad.
Richard Wright – Malta v England, 2000
At one point, Wright was set to be a fixture in the England team for years to come. A stalwart at Ipswich at such a tender age, he was a big part of their success in reaching the Premier League, his impressive form securing an international call-up ahead of Euro 2000. After a 1-1 draw with Brazil and a 2-0 defeat of Ukraine, Kevin Keegan hoped for a confidence boost away to Malta in the final warm-up game. He got anything but.
Keegan rotated his squad, giving Wright, third choice goalkeeper behind David Seaman and Nigel Martyn, a first run out. Although Martin Keown put England in front, Wright had a nightmare, rushing out recklessly to give away two penalties. The first had to be retaken for encroachment and ended up going in off the hapless goalkeeper’s back. He saved the second to preserve a 2-1 win for England but only made one more international appearance.
Ben Woodburn – Wales v Austria, 2017
The tussle over Woodburn’s services was decided once and for all last month, when Chris Coleman brought him on at home to Austria in a World Cup qualifier that they had to win. Born in Chester, the striker had represented Wales from Under-15 level onwards but England remained hopeful of getting him to switch allegiances.
That prospect was ended decisively when Woodburn came off the bench to rattle in the winner against Austria from 25 yards out. It was one of the 17-year-old’s first touches as an international footballer and sent the Millennium Stadium into ecstasy. He’s played twice more for his country and may be called upon at some point tonight.
Chris Iwelumo – Scotland v Norway, 2008
In comparison to Ben Woodburn, Iwelumo was a latecomer to the international scene. He’d been asked to join Scotland’s tour of South Korea in 2002 but had to withdraw as his club, Stoke City, reached the play-offs. It wasn’t until six years later, at the age of 30, that he got another chance whilst in fine form for Wolverhampton Wanderers.
With the game poised at 0-0 and Scotland searching for victory, Iwelumo was brought on by George Burley. Gary Naysmith scampered through down the left and fired the ball across for the big striker who somehow contrived to miss from three yards out, skewing his effort wide of the post when it looked easier to score. The offside flag, which could have spared him some embarrassment, stayed down.
