A solution to end the penalty kick controversy for future World Cups.

by user DRE-LO

I did not have a problem with the Italy / France World Cup Final being decided by penalty kicks under it's current format. However, I can understand the desire from diehards to have the World Cup to be decided by a Golden Goal. Thus, I believe a little reform is necessary.

Usually after the first half of play, there is an intermission as always. However if the second half of play ended in a tie, the game would go almost immediately into the first fifteen minute overtime with little chance for the players to rest. If it were still tied, it'd go into another fifteen minute overtime with the same meager amount of rest in between.

Solution: There should be another intermission if the second half ends in a tie. After every overtime period in the NHL, they have the same period of rest in between. It should be the same in soccer. The players would come out rested and less fatigued and it would make for an exciting period of sudden death overtime. I would even consider extending the overtime period to 20-25 minutes due to the rest in between. In between overtimes, I'd gave at least a 15-20 minute intermission. And there should be at least 2 substitutions for each team per overtime period including bringing back players who were taken out earlier.

Under the current format of playing 45+ minutes of second half action and then immediately jumping from one overtime to another with little to no rest in between, players would be more fatigued and it would take forever for a Golden Goal to be scored. Both teams in the World Cup on Sunday were clearly fatigued and thus, penalty kicks were necessary. Players like Thierry Henry and Ribery had nothing left in the tank and had to be taken out.

I feel this solution will establish the Golden Goal and declare an end to penalty kicks forever.

Date

Tue 07/11/06, 8:27 pm EST

DeuelioJV Squad

1240 days ago

Score 0

Very interesting points, I never thought about a longer intermission. My solution was to add a fourth sub after the first 30 minute overtime if there is still no result. I think yours is more likely to be realistic in FIFA's mind. Nice work.

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Alex HolowczakHall of Famer

1240 days ago

Score 0

"Penalty kick controversy"? I don't see anyone thinking there is controversy about it, I think that was the wrong word. The reason EXTRA time (grrr!!!) is two 15 minute periods is because 90 + (2*15) = 120 = 2 hours. It's about long enough. I think the current format is fine. Some of the best games in World Cup History are remembered for being goal fests in extra time. E.g. West Germany-France in a Semi Final in 82 where it was 1-1 but finished 4-3. Great games. As it is at the moment there is nothing actually wrong with the system. It may be slightly unfair, but it is the only realistic solution. So why not just carry on the way it is? The way it is now makes the end of a game interesting, even after the dullest 0-0 draws. And they are great fun to watch, especially for neutrals. It is more a test of nerves than a test of skill - they've had two hours to showcase their skill. Besides, why are you complaining, the USA generally lose well before that anyway...

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Sayhey-rodSoccer Kid

1240 days ago

Score 0

But at least we can always bank on the english to shank their pks!!!!

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DeuelioJV Squad

1239 days ago

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sayhey-rod, I thought they final was terrible because Italy never went forward and were content to go to PK's. I would like to see a match with no PK's to see if Italy would play differently and how the match would open up. Either way, good article that made me think.

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Sayhey-rodSoccer Kid

1239 days ago

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Duelio, I was just digging back at Alex after his anti-US statement. That said, I agree with you. What's interesting is that I thought France was sitting back through most of the Cup and I was rooting for Italy simply because they had shown more attacking prowess. So I doubt Italy was just hoping for PKs, rather I think their midfield was completley spent and simply couldn't advance the ball.

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DRE-LOAAA-er

1239 days ago

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Italy was tired and so was France. Everyone was spent and thus penalty kicks was the only logical way to decide it under this format. Yet, I kept reading articles, letters in newspapers bashing the penalty kicks and offering no ideas or conclusions on how to change it. Thus came my motivation for this article.

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