Table of Contents
- So, what is a golden goal in soccer?
- History of the golden goal rule
- Examples of the golden goal rule
- Why did they stop using the golden goal rule in soccer?
- What is the silver goal in soccer?
- What is the alternative to golden/silver goals?
- Recap: The golden goal rule in soccer
You might have heard a commentator utter an expression to the tune of ‘the next goal is huge’ in soccer. Well, that is never truer than with a golden goal.
Golden goals are as exciting and jeopardizing as any other moment a soccer game could throw up.
So, what is a golden goal? Here we’ll look at the history of golden goals and whether we’re likely or not to see more of them in the future.
So, what is a golden goal in soccer?
The golden goal is the first and only goal that is scored in extra time, immediately bringing the game to its conclusion.
When the regulation time has ended, extra time will soon begin. The same amount of extra time, 30 minutes, will be played unless that crucial golden goal is scored.
If the rules of that competition state that golden goals will be enforced, extra time basically becomes a ‘next goal wins’ format.
If there isn’t a goal scored within those 30 minutes of extra time, then the game will go to penalties, meaning the winner of the game will be decided by penalties rather than a golden goal.
Golden goals are nothing to do with color. The word ‘golden’ is merely representing the value of the potential goal as the game’s most important issue.
History of the golden goal rule
Golden goals were first trialed by FIFA, soccer’s global governing body, in 1993.
Skeptics felt that the introduction of the rule promoted overly defensive setups because the teams were so worried about conceding a fatal goal.
This isn’t what FIFA intended when they introduced the rule, however. They wanted attacking soccer but unfortunately, this didn’t appear to be the case.Others were fans of the rule, however, because it would only take one chance for the underdog to score past their opponent and not have to hold on for the rest of extra time in the hope of participating in the lottery of penalty kicks.
The 2002 World Cup, and some of the controversies involved within it, meant that we no longer saw the golden goal rule applied in FIFA tournaments. UEFA flirted with the idea of a silver goal, as we discuss below, but, across the board, competitions reverted back to the usual format of a standard 30 minutes of extra time.
Examples of the golden goal rule
The final of Euro 2000 illustrates possibly the most gut-wrenching example of the golden goal rule enforced.
Italy was seconds away from tournament victory until, in the 4th minute of stoppage time in the regulation period, French forward Sylvain Wiltord broke Italian hearts to level the score and send the game to extra time.
At this stage, Italian spirits must’ve sunk; they needed to hold on through extra time because France had the momentum. Up stepped David Trezeguet, who fired home a stunner to win the game for France in extra time and declare them champions of Europe.
Similarly, at Wembley for the Euro 96 final, Germany was the beneficiary of the golden goal rule.
It’s a moment Czech Republic goalkeeper Petr Kouba won’t want to see again, but Oliver Bierhoff’s effort, which should’ve been stopped, trickled over the line to win Germany the trophy.
Can you imagine a moment filled with more joy than that? No more defensive duties are required, the game is done in that very second of agony for one team and ecstasy for the other.
Why did they stop using the golden goal rule in soccer?
Essentially, the golden goal rule was removed from soccer because it inadvertently encouraged defensive play.
Teams were so concerned about conceding that fatal goal that they wouldn’t dare attack at the risk of exposing themselves numerically.
South Korea’s contentious victory over Italy at World Cup 2002 proved the be the final nail in the coffin for the golden goal rule.
Were it not for some questionable refereeing decisions, Italy would’ve won this game well before extra time had started. Yet, South Korea counted their blessings and took advantage of Italian woes by nestling home the golden goal to further fuel the controversy.
Eventually, it was decided that there was too much jeopardy and not enough care-free spirit involved with golden goals so they were abolished.
What is the silver goal in soccer?
The silver goal was different from the golden goal rule because if a goal was scored before half-time of extra time, the remainder of the half would play out. If there were no other goals scored in that first half of extra time, the match would finish at half time of extra time.
If no goal was scored in the first half of extra time, then the game would go to the second half of extra time. Therefore, the second half of extra time with silver goals was essentially viewed the same as the second half of extra time without silver goals: whoever scores the most goals in that half of soccer wins.
The most famous silver goal ever scored was in the semi-final of Euro 2004, when unfancied Greece stunned the Czech Republic, a team littered with talent at the time, in stoppage time of the first half of extra time.
Jubilation ensued and the Greeks completed an underdog story for the ages by going on to win the tournament.
What is the alternative to golden/silver goals?
Several alternatives to the golden goal have been proposed but it doesn’t seem like tournament organizers can agree on the best format to use.
The golden goal and silver goal formats, as we’ve discussed have been tried and tested yet don’t seem favored by the sport’s governing bodies.
Many tournaments opt for traditional extra time, which is just the same rules and values to a goal that applies in the regulation period will also apply in extra time.
Other tournaments, notably the League Cup in England, feel that extra time itself is unnecessary in earlier rounds, worsens the hectic schedules of clubs and that many games that do go to extra time are treated as a procession, with both sides settling for penalties well before they begin.
Recap: The golden goal rule in soccer
While the golden goal might not be commonplace in soccer these days, fond memories of the drama it created and the panic that ensued won’t be forgotten in a hurry.
Even culturally, there is a generation of kids who’d shout ‘next goal wins’ as they kick the soccer ball. That too stems from this rule in the professional game.
Now that you’re familiar with the format, why not relive some of the game’s best golden goals online?