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How well do you remember the greatest unexpected moments from FIFA World Cup qualification history? Attempt this test to find out the number of questions you know.

World Cup Qualifying Quiz

1. 1. In the year 1973, Poland goalkeeper Jan Tomaszewski made a series of saves at Wembley to prevent the hosts a berth at the 1974 FIFA World Cup. Tomaszewski had been called 'a gloved clown' by which English coach?

   • Alf Ramsey
   • Coach Brian Clough
   • Manager Don Revie
   • Coach Ron Greenwood
   Show Solution

2. 2. France's greatest World Cup disappointment came in 1993, when they did not manage to qualify after losing their final two games at in France to Israel and ...

   • Bulgarian side
   • Romanian team
   • Sweden
   • Luxembourg team
   Show Solution

3. 3. Who was Gerard Houllier consider at fault for the French team's elimination, describing him 'the killer' of their FIFA World Cup hopes?

   • Cantona
   • David Ginola the player
   • Lama
   • Didier Deschamps player
   Reveal Solution

4. 4. In 2006, what two Africa countries made their only FIFA World Cup participations to date after beating Senegal and the Nigerian side in qualifying?

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

5. 5. Italy, the 4-time world champions, have failed to qualify for the World Cup since 2014. Which team eliminated them from the qualifying playoffs in 2022?

   • Sweden
   • Switzerland
   • Portugal
   • The North Macedonian team
   Display Result

6. Question 6. Which team made it in front of the Mexican team for the 1982 World Cup, only to lose their first match 10-1?

   • Canada
   • The Cuban team
   • El Salvador
   • The Honduran team
   Reveal Solution

7. 7. The 1982 finals had a few surprise qualifiers. What team earned their only World Cup appearance to now with an late leveller against the New Zealand team?

   • The Haitian team
   • Iraq
   • The Kuwaiti team
   • UAE
   Display Solution

8. Question 8. You'll likely remember that a Thierry Henry's handball aided France qualify at the Ireland's expense in 2009. However which player did Henry pass to to get the goal?

   • Player Anelka
   • Benzema
   • Gallas
   • Player Govou
   Reveal Solution

9. 9. The sole men FIFA World Cup the Argentine team have tried and not managed to qualify for was in 1970. What team got their place?

   • The Brazilian team
   • Colombia
   • Peru
   • The Uruguayan team
   Reveal Solution

10. Question 10. Román Torres' late winning goal against Costa Rica earned a thrilling FIFA World Cup 2018 place for which team?

    • The Honduran team
    • The Mexican team
    • Panama
    • Uruguay
    Reveal Result

11. 11. What role was Peter Hore play in the Australian team's away goals defeat to Iran in a play-off for the 1998 World Cup?

    • Known as a notorious prankster, Hore ran onto the field and cut a goal net with the Socceroos leading 3-1 on aggregate. The pause in play let the Iranian team to recover into the match and get two last-minute goals.
    • Australian centre-back Hore scored own goal that put Iran into the finals at the Socceroos' expense.
    • Being Australian foreign minister, Hore prevented the team from travelling to Tehran city, resulting in a 3-0 defeat they couldn't reverse in Melbourne city.
    • Peter Hore was a ex Australia assistant coach who joined the Iranian team's coaching staff prior to the playoff matches.
    Show Solution

12. 12. Australia finally ended their long wait for a second FIFA World Cup appearance by defeating which nation on penalties in 2005?

    • The Iranian team
    • Japan
    • Peru
    • Uruguay
    Reveal Answer

13. Question 13. The Dutch team whose 'total football' impressed the football world in 1974 nearly did not make it, rescued by a debated offside flag against ...

    • Belgium
    • Czechoslovakia
    • The English team
    • The Yugoslav team
    Display Answer

14. Question 14. Returning in 2009, which player scored a final minute winning goal for Argentina against Peru in pouring rain to save their qualifying campaign?

    • Higuaín
    • Javier Mascherano
    • Messi
    • Player Palermo
    Reveal Solution

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

    • 3
    • Five goals
    • Seven
    • 10 goals
    Reveal Answer

Test your own memory of these historic FIFA World Cup qualifying stories and see the number you got right.