On 28th June 1998, the first golden goal in World Cup history took place as Laurent Blanc scored to enable France to defeat Paraguay in the Round of 16.
What is the Golden Goal?
In a knockout competition, following a draw, two fifteen-minute periods of extra time are played. If either team scores a goal during extra time, the game ends immediately and the scoring team becomes the winner. The winning goal is known as the "golden goal". If there have been no goals scored after both periods of extra time, a penalty shoot-out decides the game. The golden goal was used in the World Cup on four instances. Three times in the 2002 edition and once in 1998.
The Round of 16 tie between France and Paraguay was goalless after 90 minutes. France despite being the favourites couldn't break down the Paraguay defence. It took a Laurent Blanc goal in the 115th minute to not only break the deadlock but also send Les Bleus to the Quarterfinals. The goal was of incredible significance as France went on to win their first and only World Cup trophy.
The Golden Goal caused a lot of stir in world football. The golden goal had not brought about more active and attacking play as originally intended and instead led to more cautious play along with furious angry reactions from a lot of players on the losing side, while there was also confusion about when events could choose among several different extra time rules. In February 2004, the IFAB announced that, after Euro 2004, both the golden goal and silver goal methods would be removed from the Laws of the Game.
Since the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, the golden goal has never been used in the event of a drawn match during the knockout stage, as FIFA restored the original rules: in the event of a drawn game after the original 90 minutes, two straight 15-minute periods of extra time are played. If scores remain level, the winner is decided by a penalty shoot-out.
In hindsight, if the Golden goal rule didn't exist then France could've failed to win the game and eventually the tournament. Zinedine Zidane and Thierry Henry would've never won the World Cup. Zidane eventually won a Ballon D'or that very year and he wouldn't have won it if it weren't for the Golden Goal rule.
Nowadays the Golden Goal rule is just looked upon as something in past that was a loophole in the system and made the game sort of unfair and less entertaining at times. Penalty shoot-outs in big tournaments are the pinnacle of drama and the Golden Goal rule may or may not have reduced the possibility of that happening much more often in the World Cups and the Euros.
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