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To what extent are you familiar with the biggest shocking moments from World Cup qualifying matches? Try this challenge to discover how many facts you recall.

FIFA World Cup Qualification Challenge

1. 1. During 1973, Polish keeper Jan Tomaszewski made a number of saves at Wembley to stop the England a place at the 1974 FIFA World Cup. He had been called 'a clown in gloves' by what England coach?

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

2. Question 2. France's most embarrassing FIFA World Cup failure occurred in 1993, when they failed to qualify after defeats in their final two matches at home to Israel and ...

   • Team Bulgaria
   • The Romania squad
   • Team Sweden
   • Luxembourg team
   Show Solution

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

   • Player Eric Cantona
   • David Ginola
   • Lama
   • Didier Deschamps player
   Reveal Result

4. Question 4. During 2006, what 2 Africa nations achieved their only FIFA World Cup showings to date after beating Senegal and the Nigerian side in qualification?

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

5. 5. Italy, the four-time champions of the world, have not managed to qualify for the finals since 2014. Which team eliminated them from the qualifying playoffs in 2022?

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

6. Question 6. What team qualified in front of Mexico for the 1982 World Cup, just to suffer defeat in their opening match 10-1?

   • Canada
   • Cuba
   • The El Salvador team
   • Honduras
   Display Result

7. Question 7. The 1982 edition finals had a few unexpected qualifiers. What team earned their sole FIFA World Cup participation to now with an late tying goal against New Zealand?

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

8. Question 8. You will probably recall that a Thierry Henry's hand ball aided France qualify at the Republic of Ireland's expense in 2009. But which player was Henry assist to get the goal?

   • Anelka
   • Player Benzema
   • William Gallas
   • Govou
   Reveal Answer

9. 9. The sole men's FIFA World Cup the Argentine team have tried and failed to qualify for was in 1970. What nation got their spot?

   • The Brazilian team
   • The Colombian team
   • Peru
   • The Uruguayan team
   Show Solution

10. 10. Román Torres' 88th minute winner against the Costa Rican team won a dramatic World Cup 2018 berth for which nation?

    • Honduras
    • Mexico
    • Panama
    • Uruguay
    Display Result

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

    • Famous as a serial joker, Hore went onto the field and cut a goalpost net with the Socceroos ahead 3-1 on total. The stop in the game allowed Iran to get back into the game and get two late scores.
    • Australian centre-back Hore scored an own goal that put Iran into the finals at Australia' cost.
    • As Australia foreign minister, Hore stopped the squad from travelling to Tehran city, leading to a 3-0 defeat they could not reverse in Melbourne.
    • Hore was a former Australian assistant who joined the Iranian team's coaching staff before the play-off games.
    Display Answer

12. Question 12. Australia finally finished their long drought for a 2nd World Cup participation by defeating which team on penalty kicks in 2005?

    • Iran
    • Japan
    • Peru
    • The Uruguayan team
    Display Result

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

    • Belgium
    • Czechoslovakia
    • England
    • Yugoslavia
    Display Solution

14. 14. Returning in 2009, who got a last-minute decisive goal for Argentina against Peru in driving rainfall to revive their qualifying bid?

    • Gonzalo Higuaín
    • Player Mascherano
    • Messi
    • Martín Palermo
    Show Answer

15. Question 15. In the infamous 'Gualtieri match' in 1993, what number of goals did England need to beat the San Marino team by to have a chance of qualifying for the FIFA World Cup?

    • Three
    • Five
    • Seven goals
    • 10 goals
    Show Answer

Test your own memory of these memorable World Cup qualification events and see the number you answered correctly.