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How much can you recall the greatest unexpected incidents from FIFA World Cup qualification history? Try this challenge to discover the number of questions you recall.

FIFA World Cup Qualification Challenge

1. Question 1. During 1973, Polish goalkeeper Jan Tomaszewski delivered a number of blocks at Wembley Stadium to prevent the England a berth at the 1974 edition FIFA World Cup. Tomaszewski had been described 'a gloved clown' by what English coach?

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

2. Question 2. France's biggest World Cup disappointment came in 1993, when they did not manage to qualify after losing their final two matches at home to Israel and ...

   • Team Bulgaria
   • Romanian team
   • Sweden
   • The Luxembourg side
   Show Answer

3. 3. Which person did Gerard Houllier consider responsible for France's elimination, labeling him 'the murderer' of their World Cup dreams?

   • Cantona
   • Ginola
   • Goalkeeper Bernard Lama
   • Deschamps
   Reveal Answer

4. Question 4. During 2006, which two Africa teams made their sole FIFA World Cup showings to this day after denying the Senegalese team and the Nigerian side in qualification?

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

5. 5. Italy, the four-time World Cup winners, have not managed to qualify for the finals since 2014. Who knocked out them from the qualifying playoffs in 2022?

   • The Swedish team
   • Switzerland
   • Portugal
   • North Macedonia
   Display Result

6. 6. Which side qualified ahead of the Mexican team for the 1982 World Cup, only to suffer defeat in their first game ten to one?

   • Canada
   • Cuba
   • El Salvador
   • Honduras
   Show Answer

7. 7. The 1982 World Cup had a few surprise participants. What nation secured their only FIFA World Cup appearance to now with an late leveller against New Zealand?

   • The Haitian team
   • Iraq
   • Kuwait
   • The UAE team
   Reveal Solution

8. Question 8. You will likely recall that a Henry's handball helped the French team make it at the Ireland's expense in 2009. But who was Henry pass to to score?

   • Anelka
   • Karim Benzema
   • Player Gallas
   • Sidney Govou
   Display Solution

9. 9. The only men's World Cup Argentina have attempted and failed to make it for was in 1970. Which side took their spot?

   • Brazil
   • The Colombian team
   • Peru
   • Uruguay
   Display Result

10. 10. Román Torres' late winning goal against Costa Rica earned a dramatic World Cup 2018 berth for which side?

    • The Honduran team
    • Mexico
    • Panama
    • Uruguay
    Show Result

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

    • Famous as a serial prankster, Hore went onto the pitch and damaged a goal net with Australia leading 3-1 on aggregate. The break in play allowed the Iranian team to recover into the match and score two late goals.
    • Australian centre-back Hore scored own goal that put the Iranian team through the finals at Australia' cost.
    • As Australian minister of foreign affairs, Hore prevented the team from travelling 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 the Iranian team's coaching team before the play-off games.
    Show Solution

12. 12. Australia finally finished their lengthy wait for a 2nd World Cup participation by beating which team on penalties in 2005?

    • Iran
    • Japan
    • Peru
    • Uruguay
    Display Result

13. Question 13. The Netherlands side whose 'attacking football' shook the football world in 1974 nearly did not make it, rescued by a controversial offside call against ...

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

14. 14. Returning in 2009, which player got a late winning goal for Argentina against the Peruvian team in driving rainfall to save their qualifying chances?

    • Higuaín
    • Javier Mascherano
    • Player Messi
    • Martín Palermo
    Display Solution

15. 15. In the famous 'Davide Gualtieri game' in 1993, how many goals was the English team require to beat San Marino by to have a chance of making it for the World Cup?

    • Three goals
    • Five
    • Seven
    • Ten
    Reveal Answer

Test your own recall of these famous FIFA World Cup qualifying moments and find out how many you knew.