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How much do you remember the biggest surprising moments from World Cup qualification campaigns? Try this test to see the number of facts you know.

FIFA World Cup Qualification Quiz

1. Question 1. In 1973, Polish keeper Jan Tomaszewski made a number of blocks at Wembley Stadium to prevent the home team a berth at the 1974 edition 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 Solution

2. Question 2. France's biggest FIFA World Cup embarrassment occurred in 1993, when they failed to make it after losing their last two matches at in France to Israel and ...

   • Bulgaria
   • Romanian team
   • Sweden
   • The Luxembourg side
   Show Solution

3. Question 3. Which person was Gerard Houllier hold accountable for the French team's elimination, calling him 'the killer' of their World Cup hopes?

   • Cantona
   • David Ginola the player
   • Lama
   • Didier Deschamps
   Reveal Result

4. 4. During 2006, which two African teams achieved their sole World Cup participations to now after beating the Senegalese team and the Nigerian side in qualification?

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

5. Question 5. The Italian team, the four-time World Cup winners, have not managed to make it for the World Cup since 2014. Who beat them from the qualifying playoffs in 2022?

   • Sweden
   • Switzerland
   • Portugal
   • Macedonia
   Show Solution

6. 6. What team made it in front of the Mexican team for the 1982 World Cup, just to lose their first game ten to one?

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

7. Question 7. The 1982 edition finals had a number of unexpected qualifiers. What team secured their sole World Cup appearance to this day with an late leveller against New Zealand?

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

8. 8. You'll likely remember that a Henry's hand ball helped the French team make it at the Republic of Ireland's cost in 2009. But which player was Henry assist to score?

   • Player Anelka
   • Karim Benzema
   • Player Gallas
   • Govou
   Reveal Solution

9. Question 9. The sole men's World Cup Argentina have attempted and failed to qualify for came in 1970. What side took their place?

   • Brazil
   • Colombia
   • The Peruvian team
   • Uruguay
   Reveal Answer

10. Question 10. Román Torres' 88th-minute decisive goal against Costa Rica secured a dramatic FIFA World Cup 2018 place for what nation?

    • Honduras
    • The Mexican team
    • Panama
    • Uruguay
    Display Answer

11. Question 11. What part was Peter Hore play in Australia's away goals loss to the Iranian team in a qualifying playoff for the 1998 FIFA World Cup?

    • Famous as a notorious troublemaker, Hore went onto the pitch and broke a net with the Socceroos leading 3-1 on total. The break in play allowed the Iranian team to get back into the match and score two late scores.
    • Australian defender Hore scored own goal that put the Iranian team into the finals at Australia' cost.
    • Being Australian minister of foreign affairs, Hore prevented the team from travelling to Tehran, resulting in a 3-0 defeat they couldn't overturn in Melbourne city.
    • Peter Hore was a former Australian assistant who joined Iran's coaching staff before the play-off games.
    Display Result

12. Question 12. The Australian team at last finished their long wait for a 2nd FIFA World Cup participation by defeating which side on a shootout in 2005?

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

13. 13. The Dutch team whose 'Total Football' impressed the world in 1974 almost did not qualify, rescued by a controversial offside call against ...

    • Belgium
    • The Czechoslovak team
    • The English team
    • The Yugoslav team
    Show Result

14. Question 14. Returning in 2009, which player got a final minute winner for the Argentine team against the Peruvian team in pouring rain to rescue their qualifying chances?

    • Gonzalo Higuaín
    • Mascherano
    • Messi
    • Martín Palermo
    Display Result

15. 15. During the infamous 'Davide Gualtieri game' in 1993, how many goals was England need to beat the San Marino team by to have a opportunity of qualifying for the World Cup?

    • Three
    • 5
    • Seven
    • 10 goals
    Show Answer

Check your knowledge of these famous World Cup qualifying stories and discover the number you got right.