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To what extent do you remember the biggest shocking events from World Cup qualification matches? Try this quiz to find out how many questions you know.

World Cup Qualifying Test

1. 1. In the year 1973, Polish goalkeeper Jan Tomaszewski delivered a number of saves at Wembley to stop the home team a spot at the 1974 FIFA World Cup. Tomaszewski had been described 'a clown in gloves' by what English manager?

   • Alf Ramsey
   • Coach Brian Clough
   • Don Revie
   • Ron Greenwood
   Display Result

2. 2. France's greatest World Cup embarrassment came in 1993, when they failed to make it after defeats in their final two matches at home to the Israeli team and ...

   • Bulgarian side
   • The Romania squad
   • Sweden
   • Luxembourg team
   Display Answer

3. 3. Which person was Gerard Houllier consider at fault for the French team's elimination, describing him 'the murderer' of their World Cup hopes?

   • Cantona
   • David Ginola
   • Lama
   • Deschamps
   Show Solution

4. 4. In 2006, what 2 African teams achieved their only World Cup participations to date after beating Senegal and Nigeria in qualification?

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

5. 5. The Italian team, the four-time world champions, have failed to qualify for the World Cup since 2014. Which team eliminated them from the playoffs in 2022?

   • Sweden
   • Switzerland
   • Portugal
   • North Macedonia
   Show Answer

6. 6. What team made it in front of Mexico for the 1982 World Cup, just to suffer defeat in their opening game ten to one?

   • The Canadian team
   • Cuba
   • El Salvador
   • The Honduran team
   Reveal Solution

7. Question 7. The 1982 World Cup had a few unexpected qualifiers. What team booked their only FIFA World Cup appearance to now with an 89th-minute equalizer against the New Zealand team?

   • The Haitian team
   • The Iraqi team
   • Kuwait
   • UAE
   Display Solution

8. Question 8. You will probably know that a Henry's handball helped the French team qualify at the Ireland's cost in 2009. But who was Henry assist to score?

   • Anelka
   • Benzema
   • Player Gallas
   • Sidney Govou
   Reveal Result

9. 9. The only men's FIFA World Cup the Argentine team have tried and not managed to qualify for was in 1970. What team secured their spot?

   • The Brazilian team
   • The Colombian team
   • The Peruvian team
   • Uruguay
   Reveal Result

10. Question 10. Roman Torres' 88th-minute winner against Costa Rica won a exciting World Cup 2018 berth for which side?

    • The Honduran team
    • Mexico
    • Panama
    • The Uruguayan team
    Reveal Result

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

    • Famous as a serial joker, Hore ran onto the field and damaged a goal net with Australia leading 3-1 on total. The break in the game let Iran to get back into the match and get two last-minute scores.
    • Socceroos defender Hore scored own goal that put Iran through the finals at the Socceroos' cost.
    • As Australia foreign minister, Hore prevented the team from travelling to Tehran, leading to a 3-0 defeat they couldn't overturn in Melbourne city.
    • Peter Hore was a former Australia assistant coach who moved to the Iranian team's coaching staff prior to the playoff games.
    Display Solution

12. 12. Australia finally finished their long wait for a 2nd FIFA World Cup participation by beating which nation on a shootout in 2005?

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

13. Question 13. The Netherlands team whose 'total football' shook the football world in 1974 almost did not qualify, rescued by a disputed offside call against ...

    • Belgium
    • Czechoslovakia
    • England
    • Yugoslavia
    Reveal Answer

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

    • Higuaín
    • Javier Mascherano
    • Lionel Messi
    • Player Palermo
    Reveal Answer

15. Question 15. In the infamous 'Davide Gualtieri game' in 1993, what number of goals was the English team require to defeat the San Marino team by to have a chance of making it for the World Cup?

    • 3
    • Five
    • 7
    • 10
    Reveal Result

Check your recall of these historic World Cup qualification events and discover the number you answered correctly.