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

World Cup Qualifying Test

1. Question 1. During 1973, Polish keeper Jan Tomaszewski made a series of stops at Wembley to stop the England a spot at the 1974 FIFA World Cup. Tomaszewski had been described 'a clown in gloves' by what England coach?

   • Alf Ramsey
   • Brian Clough
   • Don Revie
   • Ron Greenwood
   Reveal Answer

2. 2. The French team's most embarrassing World Cup embarrassment occurred in 1993, when they failed to make it after defeats in their last two matches at in France to the Israeli team and ...

   • Bulgarian side
   • Romania
   • Swedish team
   • Luxembourg
   Reveal Answer

3. 3. Who did Gerard Houllier hold at fault for France's elimination, describing him 'the killer' of their World Cup dreams?

   • Cantona
   • David Ginola the player
   • Lama
   • Deschamps
   Display Answer

4. 4. In 2006, what 2 Africa nations made their only World Cup showings to now after stopping Senegal and the Nigerian side in qualifying?

   • Togo and Angola
   • Botswana and Zambia
   • Tanzania and Libya
   • Mali and Ethiopia
   Display Solution

5. Question 5. The Italian team, the four-times world champions, have not managed to qualify for the World Cup since 2014. Which team beat them from the play-offs in 2022?

   • The Swedish team
   • The Swiss team
   • The Portuguese team
   • The North Macedonian team
   Show Answer

6. 6. What nation qualified ahead of Mexico for the 1982 FIFA World Cup, just to lose their first game 10-1?

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

7. 7. The 1982 finals had a number of unexpected participants. What team secured their only World Cup showing to now with an late equalizer against New Zealand?

   • The Haitian team
   • Iraq
   • Kuwait
   • United Arab Emirates
   Show Answer

8. Question 8. You will probably know that a Thierry Henry's handball aided France qualify at the Ireland's expense in 2009. However who did Henry set up to get the goal?

   • Nicolas Anelka
   • Karim Benzema
   • William Gallas
   • Govou
   Display Solution

9. 9. The only men's World Cup the Argentine team have attempted and not managed to qualify for came in 1970. Which side got their spot?

   • Brazil
   • Colombia
   • Peru
   • Uruguay
   Display Answer

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

    • The Honduran team
    • The Mexican team
    • The Panamanian team
    • Uruguay
    Show Result

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

    • Known as a notorious joker, Hore went onto the pitch and cut a net with the Socceroos ahead 3-1 on total. The break in the game let Iran to recover into the game and get two last-minute scores.
    • Socceroos centre-back Hore scored own goal that sent Iran into the World Cup at Australia' cost.
    • Being Australia foreign minister, Hore prevented the team from going to Tehran, resulting in a 3-0 loss they couldn't overturn in Melbourne.
    • Peter Hore was a former Australian assistant who joined Iran's coaching team before the play-off games.
    Reveal Answer

12. 12. The Australian team finally finished their long drought for a 2nd World Cup appearance by beating what side on a shootout in 2005?

    • Iran
    • The Japanese team
    • Peru
    • The Uruguayan team
    Reveal Solution

13. 13. The Netherlands team whose 'attacking football' amazed the world in 1974 almost didn't qualify, saved by a controversial linesman flag against ...

    • Belgium
    • Czechoslovakia
    • The English team
    • Yugoslavia
    Display Result

14. Question 14. Returning in 2009, which player scored a late winning goal for the Argentine team against the Peruvian team in heavy rain to save their qualifying campaign?

    • Gonzalo Higuaín
    • Player Mascherano
    • Messi
    • Palermo
    Display Answer

15. Question 15. During the infamous 'Davide Gualtieri game' in 1993, how many goals was the English team require to defeat the San Marino team by to have a opportunity of qualifying for the FIFA World Cup?

    • Three goals
    • Five
    • 7
    • 10 goals
    Show Solution

Challenge your knowledge of these famous FIFA World Cup qualification stories and discover the number you got right.