FIFA World Cup: a solution to get rid of penalty shoot-outs

[Rossiya]

Maybe we should just play sudden death like we used to.

 

[warpus]

And at the euro 68, Italy "won" the semi-final on a coin toss!

How did that work?

In considering successful tie-breakers in other sports, we could consider that a good system applied to football would either be about making a goal easier during extra-time, or about changing the scoring system during extra-time.

I agree but am opposed to the second solution (seems a bit arbitrary to me - points should only be goals, IMO). I don't think there's a better idea than my "keep taking guys off in extra time until somebody scores" solution (well, I'm sure it isn't MY idea per se)

 

[Marla_Singer]

How did that work?

According to what I've read. The referee brought both captains in the locker room, then tossed the coin in the same way as when are picked at the beginning of the game. Then he went back to the pitch and announced the result with both captains besides him as witnesses.

I agree but am opposed to the second solution (seems a bit arbitrary to me - points should only be goals, IMO). I don't think there's a better idea than my "keep taking guys off in extra time until somebody scores" solution (well, I'm sure it isn't MY idea per se)

Well, Lambert Simnel convinced me I shouldn't argue about it anymore, but the fact to play away is considered as a tie-breaker in football. As a tie-breaker, "playing away" isn't necessarily less arbitrary than counting woodwork hits during the extra-time. As long as the rule is known, you just live with it. Similarly, shootouts aren't goals in themselves. They've only been thought as an improved version of coin toss.

When shootouts have been invented, no one would have thought they would determine the winner of nearly one champions league every 2 years. Otherwise I strongly doubt they would have been accepted in the first place.

But that was a long time ago, obviously crowds love them nowadays. I've even heard people considering them as "the best part of the game". I disagree, but if that's the voice of the majority, then I accept it.

 

[Hitro]

Penalty shootouts make football great and fair. A late goal like today is what's really cruel. And I was for Barca...

 

[Rik Meleet]

If you want to decide matches who have lasted too long, but you don't want an arbituary system (like # of cards, # of corners, best looking player, etc.) nor rely on something else than team performance, then try a series of free kicks where every player (potentially) has a role in.

Give each team 5 free kicks from 5 pre-determined locations (each team the same location) and see who scores the most goals. And don't keep it to 1-touch; the free kick ends when the attacking side kicks the ball out of the field or the defending side kicks the ball over the middle-line. If the defending side kicks the ball out of the field it will become a corner or a throw-in, and that repeats until the attacking side kicks the ball out of the field or the defending side kicks the ball over the middle-line.

And no substitution players.

 

[Lambert Simnel]

Could take an awful long time, Rik. And any cross into the area will probably lead to the unrefereeable mess we often see already at corners.

Does it really have that much to commend it over penalties ?

 

[tycoonist]

Penalty shootouts make football great and fair. A late goal like today is what's really cruel. And I was for Barca...

true. i am adding away goals to the list of things that i hate. this is why i barely watch football these days.

 

[Kal'thzar]

I liked a method someone on here came up with a while ago. have the penalty shoot out at the start, whoever wins it, gets 0.5 of a goal (or advantage whatever). now the game will never be in a draw situation.

 

[Perfection]

They should flip a coin.

 

[North King]

I liked a method someone on here came up with a while ago. have the penalty shoot out at the start, whoever wins it, gets 0.5 of a goal (or advantage whatever). now the game will never be in a draw situation.

Influences the game adversely, I'd say. Since penalty shootouts with evenly balanced teams are a coinflip, you'll already have one side demoralized and one energized when they'd otherwise be playing on even terms.