How can draws be settled without penalties?

Question

I'm out at the FIFA World Cup reporting daily for Yahoo!. Check my blog at http://www.yahoo.co.uk/lee-sharpe .

Answer 1

Easy---just take into account previous matches in the tournament. If after extra time, it is still a draw, the match goes to the team with the most points at the group stage, goal difference etc. At the beginning of each match one team knows it has to win to go through and will not play defensively. However, even the team that just needs a draw, still would have an advantage to win as a draw would count against them if they drew in the next round against a team which had won all its matches. Also the third group match for teams that had already qualified would still be worth playing attacking football. If this was adopted then the team with the most consistent performance would go through, rather than a weak team getting through on the lottery of penalties.

Answer 2

This is really a bizarre thing. No team ever wants to lose a thrilling epic on the basis of penalties. At the same time they all know that this fate awaits them should they not use their skill and ability to settle the matter during normal time. So really, whilst I do think its a shame that games are sometimes not settled using normal football, I have no sympathy. However in recent years I have really come to enjoy the penalty shootout as part of the whole event.
The SILVER goal was a good idea, as teams playyed on to the end of the playing period after a goal was scored but not as dramatic as the GOLDEN goal which actually finishes the game. However, with both of these, if no goal is scored we still end up with a penalty shootout.
I like the idea of a new PLATINUM goal. Where the teams play on, with no break until the game is decided by a goal. We could even see some 14 or 15 hour games!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 3

I think that the new Silver Goal (The full 30 Minutes in Extra Time) is complete rubbish and i would love to see the Golden Goal rule be thrusted back into the Footballing world. It is much more exciting than penalties (perhaps leave you with a few less Millimetres of finger nail but there you go) and would add to the Drama if it did go into Penalties afterwards. Just imagine it, World Cup Final, England vs Germany. 3-3 At the 90 Minutes, Rooney hits the crossbar. Klose just misses as the ball goes wide at the near post. Now, the 30 minutes is up as David Beckham takes Englands last penalty in the shootout. England have the advantage, 4-3 on Penalties. Beckham scores and the crowd goes wild as finally, a Penalty Shootout that puts a smile on English faces.

That my freinds, is a Penalty Shootout.

Answer 4

I have a solution that would keep the excitement of penalties while allowing football to determine the winner.
Penalties would take place before extra time in the same format they do now 5 penalties then sudden death. However the team that wins the penalties does not win outright. It would win if the subsequent period of extra time ended in a draw. Sounds complicated? Well the following example should clear it up. Imagine it is 1990 and the England v West Germany semi-final ends 1-1 after 90mins. West Germany win on penalties but then England have another 30 mins of extra time to win the game, they would be forced to attack. Germany could play for a draw as if the 30 mins of extra-time is a draw they would go through but obviously should England score they would then need to score.
I think this system would be good as
a) We would still get to see a penalty shootout (which we all love)
b) Football still ultimately decides the winner
c) No single player is singled out for blame, as even if he misses in the shootout the team still had 30mins to make amends.

Let me know what you think and if you think there are any disadvantages to the system.

Answer 5

I used to watch a bit of Major League Soccer (or whatever it is the Americans choose to call the delightful game that is FOOTBALL). Whether they still do it or not, I'm not sure. But I thought it an interesting way to settle a tied game.
After Overtime (EXTRA time to you and I) they would pick the ball up from the halfway line, take it on, dribble, to the left, to the right, a stepover, drop the shoulder, do the keeper with the eyes and slot that baby home! Or, of course, that was the plan! A very entertaining way to end a match!
I'm not saying that this is the way games should be settled, I quite like penalties to be honest, but, fortunatley, being a fan of the mighty Reds of Liverpool first and an England fan second, penalties are a nail biting, heart stopping, elation inducing way to WIN a match... The greatest come back of all time... 3-0 down at half time... Ahhhh.... Sorry! I digress. Ahem!... Now, where was I? Erm... Yes. Penalties! Keep em!

Answer 6

Instead of the usual extra time, bring on all the defenders and wait for penalties how about after the first 10 minutes each team is forced to bring off one player every 5 minutes until there are only 7 men left on the pitch for each side.

This would mean more open play and each manager would have to think about his strategy carefully as only those left on the pitch at the end of the extra time would be eligable for a penalty shoot out.

I don't think there is any other way to decide a draw in competion other than the final shootout. There is a lot of skill involved from both goalkeeper and penalty taker. It can mean heartache for one team and jubilation for the other but if you can't score goals in open play maybe you shouldn't be in the competition in the first place.

Answer 7

How about using the number of shots a team has at the opponents goal? You could have say one point for a shot off target and two points for a shot on target and maybe include shots that score say for five points. You would need an independent official to tally the scores, and the team with the highest score wins.

The problem with using yellow cards and offsides is that it may make the game less offensive and more defensive. France's Thierry Henry likes to play right up with the defenders as we saw in last nights game against Spain. I think that if he was aware that any offside offence would be taken into account in the result of a draw he may not be so willing to stand right up where he does. There is also the problem of bad decisions, and we have seen a lot of those in the World Cup so far.

Answer 8

I think that it should go to penalties as they provide much excitement but I feel at the penalty stage if a team is already down to 10 or less men through red cards etc then they are not really disadvantaged enough. Perhaps the penalty shootout should consist of 11 penalties from each team player on the pitch at the end of the extra time has to take one and then see if there is a winner. If one team has one player down due to a red card and all penalties are scored (unlikely i know) the team with most players would win!? Lee - you wouldnt off missed in that shoot out v. Portugal! At least its good to see a man utd player win the match!!!

Answer 9

I've never read so much pathetic/nerdy ways to end matches. The only response which is half decent is D Law who said it should be settled US style with a solo run one-on-one with the keeper. How anti-climatic it would be if someone tots up the amount of corners/shots or whatever at the end of the game. Also, if a team has had the most shots and not scored, surely the art of goalkeeping/defending is not rewarded for the opposing team? Penalties are the only way. It may not appear fair but it is exciting and the only way to break the deadlock.

Answer 10

Leaving league games and friendlies out, I would like to see the match awarded to the team with the least Yellow/Red cards.

If this is used, then a panel of judges, using an immediate replay of questionable incidents should also be invoked.

The ability to award yellows/red cards after half time and after the match based on video evidence, for example, punching a player off the ball, therefore out off Referees/Judges immediate view would be penalised.

This should go some way to improving discipline within the game.

Should a draw on this happen, then resort to a system such as yahoo's fantasy points system, or the opta index, and total up the points for each player. Awarding the game to the highest scoring team.

The Judges and equipment used, are to be paid for by fines levied on the clubs/players for the incident.

The panel of judges would also help stop mistaken / biased referees, (England v Paraguay & Italy v Australia)

Simply using shots on goal is unfair as games between clubs of differing caliber and ranking would be grossly unfair. e.g.,

Lower league teams playing Premiership teams in the FA cup, that may not have the skill to surge forward every two minutes, but can defend valiantly.

Answer 11

Penalties are not a lottery,but a system which historically has been proven to favour the most successful sides,simply because their players have more experience at these encounters and who when being matched on the day for 120 mins by so-called lesser opponents know they can simply shut up shop and play for penalties ,confident that they will win the shoot-out. (i.e Liverpool in 2006 FA cup Final)

Bring back golden goals;if no result after extra time,let the teams replay the following morning for 30 minute periods until someone scores.
If penalties are retained ,then in the event of a draw AET any team who has used more penalty shoot outs to progress in earlier rounds should automatically go out.