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How much are you familiar with the greatest unexpected events from World Cup qualification campaigns? Take this test to see how many questions you remember.

World Cup Qualification Test

1. Question 1. During the year 1973, Polish keeper Jan Tomaszewski delivered a string of stops at Wembley to deny the home team a spot at the 1974 FIFA World Cup. He had been labeled 'a gloved clown' by which England manager?

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

2. 2. The French team's most embarrassing FIFA World Cup embarrassment occurred in 1993, when they did not manage to qualify after defeats in their last two matches at home to Israel and ...

   • Bulgaria
   • Romanian team
   • Swedish team
   • Luxembourg team
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3. 3. Who did Gerard Houllier blame accountable for France's elimination, labeling him 'the killer' of their FIFA World Cup chances?

   • Player Eric Cantona
   • David Ginola
   • Goalkeeper Bernard Lama
   • Deschamps
   Show Answer

4. 4. In 2006, what 2 Africa countries made their sole World Cup appearances to this day after beating Senegal and Nigeria in qualifying?

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

5. Question 5. Italy, the four-time champions of the world, have failed to make it for the finals since 2014. Who knocked out them from the qualifying playoffs in 2022?

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

6. Question 6. What team qualified ahead of the Mexican team for the 1982 World Cup, only to suffer defeat in their first game 10-1?

   • Canada
   • Cuba
   • The El Salvador team
   • The Honduran team
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7. 7. The 1982 edition finals had a few surprise participants. What side booked their sole World Cup showing to this day with an late equalizer against New Zealand?

   • The Haitian team
   • Iraq
   • The Kuwaiti team
   • United Arab Emirates
   Reveal Result

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

   • Nicolas Anelka
   • Benzema
   • William Gallas
   • Govou
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9. 9. The only men FIFA World Cup the Argentine team have attempted and not managed to make it for was in 1970. Which team secured their berth?

   • Brazil
   • Colombia
   • Peru
   • Uruguay
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10. Question 10. Roman Torres' late decisive goal against Costa Rica won a thrilling World Cup 2018 spot for what team?

    • Honduras
    • Mexico
    • The Panamanian team
    • The Uruguayan team
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11. 11. What role was Peter Hore have in the Australian team's away-goals defeat to the Iranian team in a play-off for the 1998 FIFA World Cup?

    • Known as a notorious troublemaker, Hore ran onto the field and broke a goal net with the Socceroos ahead 3-1 on total. The break in the game allowed the Iranian team to get back into the match and get two last-minute goals.
    • Socceroos centre-back Hore scored own goal that sent Iran through the World Cup at the Socceroos' expense.
    • Being Australian minister of foreign affairs, Hore prevented the team from going to Tehran, leading to a 3-0 defeat they couldn't overturn in Melbourne city.
    • Hore was a former Australia assistant coach who moved to the Iranian team's coaching team prior to the playoff games.
    Display Answer

12. Question 12. Australia at last ended their long drought for a 2nd World Cup participation by beating which nation on penalty kicks in 2005?

    • Iran
    • The Japanese team
    • The Peruvian team
    • Uruguay
    Reveal Answer

13. 13. The Netherlands side whose 'attacking football' shook the football world in 1974 almost did not qualify, rescued by a debated offside call against ...

    • The Belgian team
    • Czechoslovakia
    • England
    • Yugoslavia
    Reveal Solution

14. Question 14. Back in 2009, who scored a final minute decisive goal for Argentina against Peru in heavy rain to revive their qualifying bid?

    • Player Higuaín
    • Player Mascherano
    • Lionel Messi
    • Palermo
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15. 15. During the famous 'Gualtieri match' in 1993, what number of goals was England need to beat San Marino by to have a opportunity of making it for the World Cup?

    • Three goals
    • Five goals
    • Seven goals
    • 10 goals
    Display Result

Test your own knowledge of these famous World Cup qualifying stories and see how many you answered correctly.