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How much are you familiar with the most shocking incidents from World Cup qualification matches? Attempt this test to discover the number of questions you recall.

World Cup Qualification Quiz

1. Question 1. In the year 1973, Poland goalkeeper Jan Tomaszewski made a series of saves at Wembley Stadium to stop the hosts a place at the 1974 FIFA World Cup. Tomaszewski had been labeled 'a gloved clown' by which English manager?

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

2. 2. France's most embarrassing World Cup disappointment happened in 1993, when they did not manage to qualify after losing their last two games at in France to the Israeli team and ...

   • Team Bulgaria
   • Romanian team
   • Team Sweden
   • Luxembourg team
   Show Result

3. 3. Which person did Gerard Houllier consider at fault for France's loss, labeling him 'the murderer' of their World Cup chances?

   • Cantona
   • Ginola
   • Bernard Lama
   • Deschamps
   Display Solution

4. 4. During 2006, what 2 African nations made their only World Cup showings to this day after beating the Senegalese team and Nigeria in qualifying?

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

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

   • The Swedish team
   • Switzerland
   • Portugal
   • Macedonia
   Reveal Solution

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

   • Canada
   • Cuba
   • El Salvador
   • The Honduran team
   Display Result

7. Question 7. The 1982 edition finals had a few surprise participants. What nation earned their only FIFA World Cup showing to date with an 89th-minute leveller against the New Zealand team?

   • Haiti
   • Iraq
   • The Kuwaiti team
   • United Arab Emirates
   Show Result

8. 8. You will probably remember that a Henry's handball helped the French team make it at the Republic of Ireland's cost in 2009. However who was Henry pass to to score?

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

9. 9. The only men's World Cup Argentina have tried and not managed to qualify for occurred in 1970. What team secured their berth?

   • The Brazilian team
   • Colombia
   • Peru
   • Uruguay
   Show Answer

10. Question 10. Román Torres' 88th-minute winning goal against Costa Rica won a thrilling World Cup 2018 place for which team?

    • The Honduran team
    • Mexico
    • Panama
    • The Uruguayan team
    Display Answer

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

    • Known as a serial joker, Hore ran onto the pitch and broke a goalpost net with Australia leading 3-1 on aggregate. The pause in the game let the Iranian team to recover into the game and score two late goals.
    • Australian centre-back Hore scored own goal that put Iran into the finals at Australia' cost.
    • Being Australian foreign minister, Hore stopped the squad from going to Tehran city, resulting in a 3-0 loss they could not reverse in Melbourne city.
    • Hore was a former Australian assistant coach who joined Iran's coaching team prior to the play-off games.
    Show Answer

12. 12. The Australian team finally finished their lengthy drought for a 2nd FIFA World Cup participation by defeating what nation on penalty kicks in 2005?

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

13. 13. The Dutch team whose 'attacking football' amazed the football world in 1974 nearly didn't make it, saved by a debated linesman flag against ...

    • The Belgian team
    • The Czechoslovak team
    • England
    • Yugoslavia
    Show Answer

14. Question 14. Back in 2009, who got a late winning goal for Argentina against Peru in heavy rainfall to save their qualification bid?

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

15. 15. In the infamous 'San Marino game' in 1993, what number of scores did England require to beat the San Marino team by to have a hope of qualifying for the World Cup?

    • Three goals
    • 5
    • Seven goals
    • 10 goals
    Reveal Answer

Challenge your knowledge of these famous World Cup qualifying events and see the number you got right.