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How much are you familiar with the most surprising incidents from World Cup qualification history? Take this quiz to find out how many facts you know.

FIFA World Cup Qualifying Challenge

1. Question 1. During 1973, Poland goalkeeper Jan Tomaszewski produced a number of saves at Wembley to deny the hosts a berth at the 1974 World Cup. He had been called 'a clown in gloves' by what English manager?

   • Manager Alf Ramsey
   • Brian Clough
   • Don Revie the coach
   • Ron Greenwood manager
   Display Result

2. 2. The French team's most embarrassing FIFA World Cup disappointment happened in 1993, when they failed to make it after defeats in their final two matches at home to the Israeli team and ...

   • Bulgarian side
   • Romania
   • Swedish team
   • Luxembourg
   Display Answer

3. Question 3. Who was Gerard Houllier hold accountable for France's elimination, labeling him 'the murderer' of their World Cup dreams?

   • Player Eric Cantona
   • Ginola
   • Lama
   • Didier Deschamps player
   Reveal Result

4. 4. In 2006, which 2 African nations achieved their only World Cup showings to date after stopping Senegal and the Nigerian side in qualification?

   • Togo with Angola
   • Botswana with Zambia
   • Libya with Tanzania
   • Ethiopia and Mali
   Reveal Result

5. Question 5. The Italian team, the 4-time champions of the world, have not managed to make it for the World Cup since 2014. Who eliminated them from the playoffs in 2022?

   • Sweden
   • The Swiss team
   • Portugal
   • Macedonia
   Reveal Result

6. 6. What team qualified in front of Mexico for the 1982 World Cup, only to suffer defeat in their first match ten to one?

   • Canada
   • Cuba
   • The El Salvador team
   • Honduras
   Show Result

7. 7. The 1982 edition World Cup had a number of unexpected participants. What side secured their sole World Cup appearance to now with an 89th-minute tying goal against the New Zealand team?

   • Haiti
   • The Iraqi team
   • Kuwait
   • UAE
   Show Answer

8. Question 8. You'll probably remember that a Henry's hand ball assisted France make it at the Ireland's cost in 2009. However who did Henry set up to score?

   • Player Anelka
   • Player Benzema
   • Gallas
   • Sidney Govou
   Display Solution

9. Question 9. The sole men FIFA World Cup Argentina have attempted and failed to make it for came in 1970. Which side secured their place?

   • Brazil
   • Colombia
   • Peru
   • The Uruguayan team
   Show Answer

10. 10. Román Torres' 88th-minute winning goal against Costa Rica secured a exciting World Cup 2018 spot for what nation?

    • The Honduran team
    • Mexico
    • The Panamanian team
    • Uruguay
    Show Solution

11. 11. What part was Peter Hore play in the Australian team's away-goals loss to the Iranian team in a play-off for the 1998 FIFA World Cup?

    • Known as a notorious joker, Hore ran onto the pitch and broke a goal net with the Socceroos leading 3-1 on total. The stop in play let Iran to get back into the match and get two late goals.
    • Australian defender Hore scored an own goal that put Iran into the finals at the Socceroos' expense.
    • As Australia foreign minister, Hore stopped the team from going to Tehran city, resulting in a 3-0 loss they couldn't overturn in Melbourne.
    • Peter Hore was a former Australian assistant coach who moved to Iran's coaching team prior to the play-off games.
    Display Solution

12. Question 12. The Australian team at last finished their long drought for a second FIFA World Cup participation by beating which nation on penalties in 2005?

    • Iran
    • Japan
    • Peru
    • Uruguay
    Show Answer

13. Question 13. The Netherlands team whose 'Total Football' impressed the football world in 1974 almost did not qualify, saved by a debated linesman flag against ...

    • Belgium
    • The Czechoslovak team
    • The English team
    • Yugoslavia
    Show Answer

14. Question 14. Back in 2009, which player scored a late winning goal for the Argentine team against Peru in driving rainfall to revive their qualification campaign?

    • Player Higuaín
    • Player Mascherano
    • Player Messi
    • Palermo
    Show Solution

15. Question 15. During the famous 'Davide Gualtieri game' in 1993, what number of scores was England require to defeat the San Marino team by to have a chance of qualifying for the FIFA World Cup?

    • Three goals
    • Five goals
    • 7
    • Ten
    Display Solution

Check your memory of these famous World Cup qualifying moments and see the number you knew.