|
30 minutes of extra time which we currently have is the best.
That's what it always was until they brought in Golden Goal some time during the 90s. Golden Goal was a nice idea in theory because they thought that it would make both teams fight like hell to get the goal which would end the game, with both teams pouring forward to try and deliver that fatal blow. But in reality, with the stakes so high and the players so tired, each team would cautiously probe for opening's in the other's defence. It was very tactical and not much fun to watch, although I have to say it was very suspenseful whenever the ball was anywhere near the goal because the game could be over in a second and you saw defenders desperately hacking the ball away from danger. Plenty of hearts in mouths moments.
Then they decided Silver Goal would be a better idea which meant that if you won the first 15 minutes of extra time, the game was over, otherwise the rest of the 30 minutes was played to try and find a winner. This was a bit crap IMO because again teams were cautious, if they conceded they would have very little time to get an equaliser, so it was only at the very end of each half that they would throw caution to the wind.
With the full 30 minutes you know that if you concede early on you have time to get an equaliser, so you're not so worried about pushing up the field. The Portugal v England game during Euro 2004 was the perfect example of why 30 minutes extra time is the best. Even though we lost, it was a hell of a game, the sort of game even neutrals don't forget watching. Just like Czech Republic v Holland last summer or AC Milan v Liverpool.
|
