It's gone to penalties...

I think most people - even those who eventually win - would agree that a penalty shoot-out is a most unsatisfactory way of deciding a match. The problem is of course that it's difficult to come up with an alternative that isn't just as unsatisfactory. So here's a idea I've been toying with for some time now - if the teams are level after 90 minutes, a 10 minute period of extra time is played, BUT both teams have to drop two players, so this extra time is played 9-a-side. If the teams are still level after that, then a further 10 minutes are played and again two players have to be dropped, so this is played 7-a-side. If they're still level, then two players are again dropped and a further 10 minutes played 5-a-side. In the (I think unlikely) event that the teams are still level after this, then they continue to play 5-a-side on the "golden goal" principle, that is, first goal ends the game. This way at least, the result will be decided on basic footballing principles, rather than on which side has the better - or should I perhaps say luckier - goalkeeper.