Penalty shootouts in football are the worst way to decide a knockout match, and I think it's time we admit that. Watching a team dominate for 120 minutes only to lose on random spot-kicks feels like a lottery, not a fair contest of skill. I know some say it's about nerve and mental strength, but that's a cop-out—you might as well flip a coin. Yes, we need a winner, but there's a better alternative: sudden-death golden goal, which rewards actual play, or even replaying the match in some cases.