In addition to the repeated mentions of Toni Kroos, Jamal Musiala, Jude Bellingham, Arda Güler, and Nicolae Stanciu as standout figures from the first round of group stage matches, other players initially destined for the sidelines made significant impacts, had notable influence, or made brief but brilliant appearances for teams like Switzerland, the Netherlands, Portugal, Turkey, and Germany.

Emre Can, from vacation to celebrating a goal with Germany

First to make his mark was Emre Can. In the opening match against Scotland, the Borussia Dortmund midfielder entered the field in the 80th minute, replacing the applauded and revered Toni Kroos. He wasn't even supposed to be at the Allianz Arena in Munich, but fate opened a spot for him in Julian Nagelsmann's squad.

Aleksandar Pavlovic, the promising Bayern Munich player, had to leave the camp due to tonsillitis, missing out on the Euros, and Nagelsmann called up Emre Can, who was on vacation with his wife when he received the call from his national team coach. Quickly joining his teammates, Can's appearance couldn't have been more successful. Shortly after coming off the bench, he fired a shot from outside the box to cap Germany's 5-1 victory. "I haven't been here long, but I'm grateful. I'll do my best for the team," he said after his impactful cameo.

Embolo, absent for two years, delivers a soothing goal for Switzerland

Less than 24 hours later, another player, this time from Switzerland, emerged from the bench to calm the Swiss team. Breel Embolo, a substitute under Murat Yakin, regained the confidence he needed after two years without playing for his national team—since Switzerland's last game in the Qatar World Cup, to be exact.

His appearance against Hungary provided one of the day's standout moments. He stepped onto the pitch in the 74th minute to replace Ruben Vargas with the score delicately poised at 2-1. Despite a thigh injury that was visibly taped up, he lost his bandage mid-run but managed to chip Peter Gulacsi in the 93rd minute, sealing Switzerland's victory.

Weghorst rescues Koeman

More crucial was the appearance of Netherlands' forward Wout Weghorst. Ronald Koeman initially didn't trust the Hoffenheim striker, opting for Memphis Depay as the primary scorer against Poland. The strategy didn't work, and in the 81st minute, with the score tied at 1-1, Depay left the field for Weghorst. It turned out to be Koeman's best decision.

Weghorst wasted no time in securing the win for his team. With a graceful finish, he capitalized on Nathan Aké's delivery to beat Poland when his team needed it most. Undoubtedly, Weghorst became Ronald Koeman's hero, who praised him afterward: "His goal is one of his strengths. He was disappointed when I told him he wouldn't start, but he stayed focused. It's fantastic that Wout got the victory," Koeman said.

Conceiçao, a decisive goal in 111 seconds

But Weghorst wasn't the only substitute who made a decisive impact. Even more dramatic was Francisco Conceiçao's contribution for Portugal, struggling to break through the Czech Republic's defense in Leipzig. Until he entered the field in the 90th minute for Vitinha, Portugal had only managed an own goal by Robin Hranac, which tied the game.

Within 111 seconds of stepping onto the pitch, Conceiçao received a cross from Neto in the heart of the box. Without hesitation, he blasted it into the net, sparking jubilation among his teammates and securing Portugal's victory.

Akturkoglu's sprint to glory

Turkish forward Muhammed Akturkoglu also enjoyed his moment, though overshadowed by Arda Güler's spectacular goal that broke the deadlock against Georgia. Like other key players, Akturkoglu made the most of his limited minutes.

He came on for Kenan Yildiz in the 85th minute. Shortly after, in the 97th minute, as Georgia desperately pushed for an equalizer from a corner that Mamardashvili headed, Akturkoglu intercepted the ball and sprinted unopposed into the opposite area, easily scoring past Valencia's goalkeeper. His goal provided the assurance Turkey needed.

Ultimately, being on the bench at first may lead to disappointment for a player, but it can also lead to an explosion of celebratory vindication. Just ask Conceiçao, Weghorst, Embolo, Emre Can, and Akturkoglu—names initially destined for insignificance who seized their moments to become pivotal for teams like Portugal, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany, and Turkey.