Since their inception as a replacement for the drawing of lots or a coin toss to determine the winner of a knock-out tie, the penalty shoot-out has divided fans' opinion.

The first major international tournament to be decided in this manner was the 1976 European Championship when Czechoslovakia defeated West Germany 5-3 and apparently inspired the Germans to practise. They haven’t lost one since!

Fast forward eight years later to Rome and Liverpool become the first club to win the European Cup via a shoot-out thanks to Bruce Grobbelaar’s famous ’wobbly legs’ putting Bruno Conti and Francesco Graziani off enough to miss and allowing Alan Kennedy to convert the winning kick.

'The ball is placed 40 yards from goal with the player given a time limit to advance on the goal and attempt to score'


Numerous competitions throughout the world, including two World Cup finals, have been decided this way since, but is there really a better alternative?

I like the edge-of-your-seat drama and excitement of penalties. With replays financially and logistically impossible in most cases, and the silver and golden goal experiment tried and discarded, how else can a winner be found?

If you were to ask 100 people this question you would probably get dozens of different answers; from the team winning the most corners to removing players from both sides at five-minute intervals during extra time to create more space to exploit until someone scores a goal.

But if you forced me into a choice I would go for a variation on the theme. Based on the penalty shot in ice hockey and used briefly in the North American Soccer League in the '70s and more recently in MSL until dispensed with in 2000, the ball would be placed 40 yards from goal with the player given a time limit to advance on the goal and attempt to score.

The goalkeeper would start on his goal-line but could advance once the opposing player starts his run up and then can use his area as per during normal play. I feel this would not only bring a more skilful element to the shoot-out but add variation as different players take different approaches.

Does the player take the keeper on one-on-one, attempt a chip as he advances or does the keeper stay on his line and force the taker into an effort from distance?

I think the penalty shoot-out is here to stay, but with Sepp Blatter as FIFA President anything can happen!