FIFA president Sepp Blatter is considering scrapping extra-time or reintroducing the failed 'golden goal' in attempt to promote attacking football.
This summer's World Cup was criticised for its negative tactics, with many teams deploying two holding midfielders and just one striker. That led to many cagey games, especially in the group stage when the first round of games saw the fewest number of goals ever scored in the finals.
Blatter now believes that scrapping extra-time, meaning games would go directly to penalty kicks, would force teams to play offensively. But opting for a return to the 'golden goal' would seem a retrograde step. The 'golden goal' was introduced by FIFA in 1993 and first used in an international tournament at Euro 96. The first ever 'golden goal' scored in a senior final was by 1995 Auto Windscreens Shield Final where Birmingham beat Carlisle United 1-0 thanks to a Paul Tait goal.
Then at Euro 96, Oliver Bierhoff netted the 'golden goal' at Wembley which defeated Czech Republic. France also beat Italy at Euro 2000 on the rule.
The 'golden goal' was eventually scrapped in football after Euro 2004 amid claims it actually promoted defensive, rather than offensive play. UEFA tried out the 'silver goal' which gave teams until the end of a half of extra-time to equalise, but that too failed to prove popular.
Blatter told FIFA.com: "We have to try to find a way to encourage free-flowing football in tournaments like the World Cup, with teams playing to win. We plan to take the opportunity to look at the concept of extra time as well. Often we see teams set themselves up even more defensively in extra time, in an attempt to avoid conceding a goal at all costs.
"To prevent this, we could go directly to a penalty shoot-out at full time, or reintroduce the golden goal rule. We'll see what emerges from the committee meetings. Football has become such a strategic game, with teams moving as a unit. It can be an impressive sight; gone are the days of simple tactics where you attacked then defended.
"But in the first few matches of the group stage in South Africa, we witnessed some teams that went out to avoid defeat, that were playing for a draw from the outset. This is a topic that I would like to discuss at upcoming Football and Technical Committee meetings.''
Blatter stressed that Spain's triumph was well-deserved and he also praised the quality of Argentina, Germany and Ghana: "For several World Cups now, we've been expecting a new champion to emerge. There was an element of hope that the champion would come from a continent that hadn't produced a winner before. South Korea came very close for Asia in 2002, while this time around, a couple of centimetres were the difference between Ghana making the semi-final and being eliminated.
"That said, Spain's success was well-deserved; in my opinion, they along with Argentina produced the highest quality of play. On top of that, they're both young teams, just like the German side that finished third, and Ghana. That's a good sign.''
This summer's World Cup was criticised for its negative tactics, with many teams deploying two holding midfielders and just one striker. That led to many cagey games, especially in the group stage when the first round of games saw the fewest number of goals ever scored in the finals.
Blatter now believes that scrapping extra-time, meaning games would go directly to penalty kicks, would force teams to play offensively. But opting for a return to the 'golden goal' would seem a retrograde step. The 'golden goal' was introduced by FIFA in 1993 and first used in an international tournament at Euro 96. The first ever 'golden goal' scored in a senior final was by 1995 Auto Windscreens Shield Final where Birmingham beat Carlisle United 1-0 thanks to a Paul Tait goal.
Then at Euro 96, Oliver Bierhoff netted the 'golden goal' at Wembley which defeated Czech Republic. France also beat Italy at Euro 2000 on the rule.
The 'golden goal' was eventually scrapped in football after Euro 2004 amid claims it actually promoted defensive, rather than offensive play. UEFA tried out the 'silver goal' which gave teams until the end of a half of extra-time to equalise, but that too failed to prove popular.
Blatter told FIFA.com: "We have to try to find a way to encourage free-flowing football in tournaments like the World Cup, with teams playing to win. We plan to take the opportunity to look at the concept of extra time as well. Often we see teams set themselves up even more defensively in extra time, in an attempt to avoid conceding a goal at all costs.
"To prevent this, we could go directly to a penalty shoot-out at full time, or reintroduce the golden goal rule. We'll see what emerges from the committee meetings. Football has become such a strategic game, with teams moving as a unit. It can be an impressive sight; gone are the days of simple tactics where you attacked then defended.
"But in the first few matches of the group stage in South Africa, we witnessed some teams that went out to avoid defeat, that were playing for a draw from the outset. This is a topic that I would like to discuss at upcoming Football and Technical Committee meetings.''
Blatter stressed that Spain's triumph was well-deserved and he also praised the quality of Argentina, Germany and Ghana: "For several World Cups now, we've been expecting a new champion to emerge. There was an element of hope that the champion would come from a continent that hadn't produced a winner before. South Korea came very close for Asia in 2002, while this time around, a couple of centimetres were the difference between Ghana making the semi-final and being eliminated.
"That said, Spain's success was well-deserved; in my opinion, they along with Argentina produced the highest quality of play. On top of that, they're both young teams, just like the German side that finished third, and Ghana. That's a good sign.''
