As the final whistle went Barcelona's players gathered in a circle, substitutes and squad players sprinting to join them, and danced while Gerard Piqué began spraying the Catalan cava.
As the clock ticked out on the Commonwealth Games netball bronze medal match on Sunday, the sound of Bob Marley's "One Love" came booming over the public address system and the Jamaican netball squad – substitutes and all – needed no second invitation to get together and feel all right as they rushed on court to enjoy a celebratory huddle.
In 2006, La Pulga was just 18 when he received the call-up to join José Pekerman's squad, a substitute in one of the most attractive, pure attacking teams to challenge for the World Cup since Socrates' Brazil disciples in 1982.
When, in 2005, Arsenal fielded an entire squad, including substitutes, without an Englishman, it didn't seem mercenary so much as evolutionary.
City then illustrated the strength of their squad with substitutes Navas and Milner both scoring late on.
Forest, who left recent signing Jermaine Jenas out of their matchday squad, introduced substitutes Billy Sharp and Henri Lansbury as they launched a late onslaught.
The Football Association had claimed that no players who travelled to Poland and Ukraine would be considered but Butland, an unused substitute in Roy Hodgson's England squad at Euro 2012, is one of two keepers in the squad along with Middlesbrough's Jason Steele.
But the French also have No. 10-ranked Richard Gasquet on the squad and could substitute him for one of their singles players.
Following last week's 1-1 drawithth Nürnberg – after the visit to Stuttgart, it's the only time Eintracht have failed to win in their last seven matches – there was a palpable sense of irritation around the squad, with only substitute Haller's late goal saving a point.
England coach Fabio Capello, who was seriously considering Beckham for his squad as a substitute, was likely already mentally drawing up new plans for his team Sunday night.
Wickham was restored to the squad as a substitute against Everton in November and has made four appearances in total since that introduction.
