The golden goal rule is a long lost relic lost to the sporting wilderness. Whilst it still exists across multiple sports, including the likes of field hockey, lacrosse, football has simply done away with it. Seen as some as mirroring the tension of a high stakes game of baccarat, The Golden Goal is a way of ending tied games and has been the cause of many exciting and unforgettable moments in the history of sport.
What was the Golden Goal Rule?
The Golden Goal rule is a sudden death tie breaker to decide the outcome of a tied game after regulation time. Under the golden goal rule, any tied game goes to extra time after the standard match time. Rather than going to penalties after the extra time is up, the golden goal rule means that the team which scores a goal or point during extra time is the winner.
The Golden Goal rule was brought in to help prevent long matches with tense and boring extra time periods. As teams are usually too nervous or tired to attack during extra time, many matches would always feature a forgettable period of extra time.
With the Golden Goal rule, teams are rewarded for attacking play rather than sitting back. This meant that rather than boring stalemates, extra time became a fast and furious affair, with both teams desperate to get a goal.
Understood by some to be a more recent phenomenon, The Golden Goal rule first saw use in football all the way back in 1867. Back then it was used to decide the outcome of English cup games with the first-ever recorded use being when Norfolk FC scored an extra-time goal against Broomhall FC to win the match 1-0.
It wasn’t until many years later that FIFA adapted the rule for football competitions in 1993. The term Golden Goal was used as they thought that “sudden death” had too many negative connotations. Admittedly, Golden Goal does sound a lot better in our opinion.
FIFA didn’t make the Golden Goal rule compulsory, and event organisers were free to choose whether to use the rule or not. It was first used in the European Championships in 1996 and then the World Cup in 1998. The rule was eventually phased out after the 2002 World Cup.
Top Golden Goal Moments
The Golden Goal rule may not be featured at the World Cup anymore, but it still created some classic football moments, here are some of the best:
David Trezeguet scores for France vs Italy in the Euro 2000 final
Italy and France were battling it out in the Euro Championship final and France managed to draw the teams level in the last minute of injury time after Delvecchio had put the Italians ahead. The game went to extra time, and France found themselves champions after Trezeguet received a cut back from Pires and scored a terrific Golden Goal.
Laurent Blanc scores for France vs Paraguay at World Cup 1998
Hosts France were struggling against a resilient Paraguay team in the last 16 of the 1998 World Cup. Facing the prospect of a penalty shootout, it looked bleak for the French team who were missing the presence of Zidane due to a suspension. Luckily, defender Blanc managed to fire home with just six minutes remaining. This was the first-ever World Cup Golden Goal and France would go on to win the competition.
Oliver Bierhoff scores for Germany vs the Czech Republic in the 1996 Euro final
After going 1-1 into extra time, Germany won the Euro Championships for the third time in their history. Bierhoff’s shot was fumbled by Czech keeper five minutes into extra time, allowing the Germans to lift the trophy.
Zinedine Zidane scores for France vs Portugal in the Euro 2000 semi-final
French fans most definitely be big fans of the Golden Goal rule, not only did they win the Euro Championships with a Golden Goal, but they also used the rule to pass Portugal in the semi-finals. After going 1-1 and reaching extra time, France were awarded a penalty for handball which Zidane calmly dispatched.