Penalty shoot outs

Penalty shoot outs…..I'm not sure if I love them or hate them. They are certainly a dramatic way to determine the result of a football match but I can't help thinking that they are just too brutal.

Its the player that misses; it can literally be a life-changing moment. Some may emerge stronger but some will be broken by it. The penalty saved in the Greece, Costa Rica match last night was actually a fairly good one. Certainly as good as many others that were hit straight down the middle. The goalkeeper made an excellent save. But whatever is said to Gekas, however well he played during the game, the fact is that he knows that he is the one that missed and sent Greece out of the World Cup.

That kind of ending is really too cruel. So, I think the odds should be flipped.

For example, no-one really blames the goal-keeper even if he lets in all 5 penalties because he is not really expected to save a penalty. As such the emphasis is always on the penalty taker who is expected to score. So there needs to be a way of deciding a game that could be skilful, might involve some good fortune and can be equally as dramatic as the penalty shoot-out. The difference is that it has to be a challenge which those participating would be expected to fail more often than succeed.

So I have come up with 2 possibilities; firstly, free-kicks from, say, 30 yards out; no wall, just a goal-keeper; secondly, and my favourite, the famous Sky TV crossbar challenge. All the team can take one, the team with the most hits win. I reckon that could be exciting.

Anyone else got any sensible (I appreciate this is unlikely) suggestions?

 

Proper Roman-style gladiator combat.

 

Love watching them but they are brutal. Felt so sorry for Chile on Saturday.Must take the players concerned a long time to recover. That said anything else would have the same effect unless you play endless extra time or replays.

 

The penalty shoot out is still the best way as it contains an element of both attack (goal scoring) and defence (goalkeeping). Can't think of anything better.

 

Fan relays.

 

If they did that in the league, clubs would ask your age and weight before they sold you a season ticket. I'd have no chance

 

Maybe "sudden death" shoot outs should actually be what they say. That would sort the men from the boys, and at least the ones who miss wouldn't have long to worry about what they'd done.

 

Dance off.

 

Next Goal Wins. Continue to play until there's a winner.

 

Tried that...wasn't popular. It was thought that it would increase attacking play, but actually had the opposite effect...teams became scared to lose.

 

5 corners each. Each attempt ends in either a goal, or the ball cleared from the defending sides area, or the ball going out of play.

 

A player from each team is taken off the pitch every 5 minutes?

 

Much as it can be grossly unfair for the teams involved, in terms of entertainment without being too contrived, I think penalty shoot-outs are the best way to sort things out after extra-time, plus it is relatively quick and clean.

An alternative after extra-time would be to play the golden goal scenario, where the teams play 15 minutes before a break to change ends and get treatment and refreshment. Then they keep doing that until someone scores. But it could end up like a Wimbledon final set, where the teams cancel themselves out for hours and hours.

These days, in TV football, it has to be dramatic penalties. People often say they don't like it, but really they love it.

 

Crossbar challenge

 

Bloody hell, England are useless at Subbuteo as well now?

 

That was my original suggestion. I like it because, presumably, it is something players could practice and improve upon. So, although the odds would be against them, there would definitely be an element of skill involved. AND, none of the negative stuff if you miss.