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To what extent can you recall the greatest unexpected incidents from World Cup qualification campaigns? Take this challenge to see how many answers you recall.

World Cup Qualification Challenge

1. Question 1. In 1973, Poland goalkeeper Jan Tomaszewski produced a string of stops at Wembley to deny the home team a berth at the 1974 edition FIFA World Cup. He had been described 'a clown in gloves' by which England manager?

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

2. 2. France's greatest World Cup disappointment occurred in 1993, when they did not manage to qualify after defeats in their last two matches at in France to the Israeli team and ...

   • Team Bulgaria
   • The Romania squad
   • Swedish team
   • Luxembourg
   Show Result

3. Question 3. Which person did Gerard Houllier hold responsible for France's elimination, labeling him 'the assassin' of their FIFA World Cup chances?

   • Eric Cantona
   • Ginola
   • Goalkeeper Bernard Lama
   • Deschamps
   Reveal Result

4. Question 4. During 2006, which two African countries achieved their sole FIFA World Cup showings to this day after denying the Senegalese team and Nigeria in qualifying?

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

5. 5. Italy, the four-times World Cup winners, have not managed to qualify for the finals since 2014. Who knocked out them from the play-offs in 2022?

   • Sweden
   • Switzerland
   • The Portuguese team
   • The North Macedonian team
   Reveal Solution

6. Question 6. What nation qualified ahead of the Mexican team for the 1982 FIFA World Cup, only to lose their opening match 10-1?

   • The Canadian team
   • Cuba
   • El Salvador
   • Honduras
   Display Solution

7. Question 7. The 1982 edition World Cup had a number of surprise participants. Which team secured their sole FIFA World Cup participation to now with an late equalizer against the New Zealand team?

   • Haiti
   • The Iraqi team
   • Kuwait
   • United Arab Emirates
   Reveal Solution

8. 8. You will probably recall that a Thierry Henry's hand ball assisted the French team qualify at the Republic of Ireland's expense in 2009. However which player did Henry assist to get the goal?

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

9. 9. The sole men FIFA World Cup the Argentine team have attempted and failed to make it for came in 1970. Which side got their place?

   • Brazil
   • The Colombian team
   • Peru
   • Uruguay
   Show Solution

10. Question 10. Roman Torres' late winning goal against the Costa Rican team won a dramatic World Cup 2018 spot for what side?

    • Honduras
    • Mexico
    • Panama
    • The Uruguayan team
    Show Result

11. Question 11. What role did Peter Hore play in Australia's away goals loss to Iran in a playoff for the 1998 FIFA World Cup?

    • Known as a notorious joker, Hore ran onto the field and cut a goal net with Australia ahead 3-1 on aggregate. The stop in play allowed Iran to get back into the match and get two late goals.
    • Australian defender Hore scored an own goal that put Iran through the finals at the Socceroos' expense.
    • As Australian foreign minister, Hore stopped the squad from travelling to Tehran city, resulting in a 3-0 defeat they couldn't overturn in Melbourne city.
    • Hore was a former Australia assistant coach who moved to Iran's coaching staff prior to the playoff matches.
    Show Answer

12. Question 12. The Australian team finally ended their lengthy wait for a second World Cup appearance by beating which team on penalties in 2005?

    • The Iranian team
    • The Japanese team
    • Peru
    • Uruguay
    Show Result

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

    • Belgium
    • Czechoslovakia
    • England
    • Yugoslavia
    Display Result

14. Question 14. Returning in 2009, who got a late winner for the Argentine team against the Peruvian team in pouring rain to revive their qualification bid?

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

15. 15. In the famous 'Gualtieri match' in 1993, how many goals was England require to beat the San Marino team by to have a chance of qualifying for the World Cup?

    • 3
    • Five goals
    • Seven goals
    • Ten
    Display Solution

Test your knowledge of these historic World Cup qualifying moments and see the number you answered correctly.