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To what extent do you remember the greatest unexpected events from FIFA World Cup qualification matches? Attempt this quiz to find out the number of facts you know.

FIFA World Cup Qualification Challenge

1. 1. In 1973, Polish goalkeeper Jan Tomaszewski delivered a number of saves at Wembley Stadium to stop the hosts a place at the 1974 edition FIFA World Cup. He had been described 'a circus clown with gloves' by which English coach?

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

2. 2. France's most embarrassing World Cup failure came in 1993, when they did not manage to qualify after losing their last two matches at in France to Israel and ...

   • Team Bulgaria
   • Romania
   • Swedish team
   • Luxembourg
   Display Result

3. Question 3. Who was Gerard Houllier blame accountable for the French team's loss, describing him 'the killer' of their FIFA World Cup dreams?

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

4. 4. In 2006, what two African nations achieved their sole FIFA World Cup participations to date after stopping Senegal and Nigeria in qualifying?

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

5. 5. The Italian team, the four-time world champions, have failed to make it for the finals since 2014. Who beat them from the play-offs in 2022?

   • The Swedish team
   • Switzerland
   • Portugal
   • Macedonia
   Show Answer

6. Question 6. What team made it in front of the Mexican team for the 1982 FIFA World Cup, only to suffer defeat in their opening game 10-1?

   • Canada
   • Cuba
   • El Salvador
   • Honduras
   Show Result

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

   • Haiti
   • Iraq
   • The Kuwaiti team
   • United Arab Emirates
   Display Solution

8. 8. You'll likely recall that a Henry's hand ball helped France make it at the Ireland's cost in 2009. However who was Henry set up to get the goal?

   • Nicolas Anelka
   • Player Benzema
   • Player Gallas
   • Govou
   Show Result

9. Question 9. The sole men's World Cup the Argentine team have attempted and failed to qualify for was in 1970. Which side got their place?

   • Brazil
   • The Colombian team
   • The Peruvian team
   • The Uruguayan team
   Show Answer

10. Question 10. Román Torres' 88th minute winner against the Costa Rican team secured a dramatic FIFA World Cup 2018 berth for what side?

    • Honduras
    • Mexico
    • Panama
    • Uruguay
    Reveal Answer

11. Question 11. Which part was Peter Hore have in Australia's away goals loss to the Iranian team in a play-off for the 1998 World Cup?

    • Famous as a serial troublemaker, Hore ran onto the field and damaged a goal net with Australia leading 3-1 on aggregate. The stop in the game allowed Iran to get back into the game and get two late goals.
    • Socceroos defender Hore scored own goal that sent the Iranian team into the World Cup at the Socceroos' cost.
    • As Australian foreign minister, Hore prevented the team from going to Tehran, resulting in a 3-0 defeat they couldn't reverse in Melbourne city.
    • Hore was a ex Australian assistant coach who joined the Iranian team's coaching team before the playoff matches.
    Reveal Solution

12. 12. The Australian team finally finished their long wait for a second FIFA World Cup showing by defeating which nation on a shootout in 2005?

    • Iran
    • Japan
    • Peru
    • The Uruguayan team
    Show Solution

13. Question 13. The Dutch side whose 'total football' impressed the football world in 1974 almost did not qualify, rescued by a disputed offside flag against ...

    • Belgium
    • Czechoslovakia
    • England
    • Yugoslavia
    Show Answer

14. Question 14. Back in 2009, which player scored a late decisive goal for the Argentine team against Peru in driving rain to save their qualifying bid?

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

15. 15. In the famous 'Davide Gualtieri game' in 1993, how many scores was the English team need to defeat San Marino by to have a hope of qualifying for the FIFA World Cup?

    • Three goals
    • 5
    • Seven goals
    • Ten
    Display Solution

Check your recall of these memorable FIFA World Cup qualification events and see how many you knew.