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How well can you recall the most shocking incidents from FIFA World Cup qualifying matches? Try this test to see the number of facts you remember.

FIFA World Cup Qualifying Quiz

1. 1. During 1973, Polish goalkeeper Jan Tomaszewski produced a series of stops at Wembley to stop the home team a berth at the 1974 edition FIFA World Cup. Tomaszewski had been called 'a clown in gloves' by what English coach?

   • Alf Ramsey
   • Coach Brian Clough
   • Don Revie the coach
   • Ron Greenwood manager
   Display Answer

2. 2. The French team's biggest World Cup embarrassment occurred in 1993, when they did not manage to qualify after losing their final two matches at in France to Israel and ...

   • Bulgaria
   • Romania
   • Team Sweden
   • The Luxembourg side
   Show Result

3. 3. Who did Gerard Houllier blame at fault for France's elimination, labeling him 'the assassin' of their World Cup dreams?

   • Cantona
   • David Ginola the player
   • Bernard Lama
   • Didier Deschamps
   Display Solution

4. Question 4. During 2006, which 2 Africa teams achieved their sole World Cup appearances to this day after stopping the Senegalese team and Nigeria in qualification?

   • Angola and Togo
   • Botswana with Zambia
   • Libya with Tanzania
   • Mali and Ethiopia
   Display Answer

5. 5. Italy, the 4-time champions of the world, have failed to qualify for the finals since 2014. Which team knocked out them from the play-offs in 2022?

   • Sweden
   • The Swiss team
   • Portugal
   • The North Macedonian team
   Show Solution

6. Question 6. What nation made it ahead of the Mexican team for the 1982 World Cup, just to lose their opening game 10-1?

   • Canada
   • The Cuban team
   • El Salvador
   • Honduras
   Reveal Answer

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

   • Haiti
   • Iraq
   • Kuwait
   • The UAE team
   Reveal Answer

8. 8. You'll likely remember that a Thierry Henry's handball assisted France qualify at the Ireland's cost in 2009. However who did Henry assist to get the goal?

   • Nicolas Anelka
   • Karim Benzema
   • Player Gallas
   • Player Govou
   Display Answer

9. 9. The only men World Cup the Argentine team have tried and not managed to make it for occurred in 1970. What team secured their spot?

   • The Brazilian team
   • Colombia
   • Peru
   • The Uruguayan team
   Display Answer

10. Question 10. Román Torres' late winner against Costa Rica earned a thrilling FIFA World Cup 2018 spot for what nation?

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

11. 11. Which role did Peter Hore play in the Australian team's away goals loss to Iran in a qualifying playoff for the 1998 World Cup?

    • Known as a serial prankster, Hore went onto the field and damaged a net with Australia leading 3-1 on aggregate. The break in play let the Iranian team to recover into the game and get two late goals.
    • Socceroos centre-back Hore scored own goal that put the Iranian team through the World Cup at the Socceroos' cost.
    • As Australian foreign minister, Hore prevented the squad from travelling to Tehran city, leading to a 3-0 defeat they couldn't overturn in Melbourne.
    • Hore was a former Australia assistant who joined Iran's coaching team prior to the playoff games.
    Show Result

12. 12. Australia at last ended their lengthy drought for a 2nd FIFA World Cup showing by beating what side on penalty kicks in 2005?

    • Iran
    • The Japanese team
    • The Peruvian team
    • The Uruguayan team
    Display Result

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

    • The Belgian team
    • The Czechoslovak team
    • England
    • The Yugoslav team
    Reveal Result

14. Question 14. Returning in 2009, who scored a final minute winner for the Argentine team against Peru in pouring rain to revive their qualification chances?

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

15. 15. During the famous 'Davide Gualtieri game' in 1993, what number of scores did the English team require to beat the San Marino team by to have a chance of making it for the World Cup?

    • Three
    • Five goals
    • Seven goals
    • Ten
    Show Answer

Test your own knowledge of these famous FIFA World Cup qualifying events and find out how many you answered correctly.