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How well can you recall the biggest surprising moments from FIFA World Cup qualification campaigns? Take this quiz to discover how many answers you remember.

World Cup Qualification Quiz

1. Question 1. In the year 1973, Polish keeper Jan Tomaszewski made a series of stops at Wembley to prevent the England a berth at the 1974 edition FIFA World Cup. Tomaszewski had been called 'a circus clown with gloves' by what England manager?

   • Alf Ramsey
   • Brian Clough
   • Don Revie
   • Ron Greenwood
   Reveal Result

2. Question 2. The French team's greatest World Cup disappointment occurred in 1993, when they failed to qualify after defeats in their final two games at home to Israel and ...

   • Bulgaria
   • Romanian team
   • Team Sweden
   • Luxembourg team
   Reveal Solution

3. Question 3. Which person did Gerard Houllier hold responsible for France's loss, calling him 'the killer' of their FIFA World Cup hopes?

   • Cantona
   • David Ginola
   • Lama
   • Didier Deschamps player
   Display Solution

4. 4. In 2006, which 2 Africa teams made their sole FIFA World Cup participations to date after denying the Senegalese team and Nigeria in qualification?

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

5. 5. The Italian team, the four-time World Cup winners, have failed to make it for the finals since 2014. Who eliminated them from the playoffs in 2022?

   • Sweden
   • The Swiss team
   • The Portuguese team
   • Macedonia
   Show Solution

6. 6. Which nation qualified ahead of the Mexican team for the 1982 FIFA World Cup, only to lose their first game 10-1?

   • The Canadian team
   • The Cuban team
   • El Salvador
   • The Honduran team
   Show Result

7. Question 7. The 1982 edition World Cup had a number of surprise qualifiers. What team secured their sole FIFA World Cup showing to this day with an 89th-minute leveller against the New Zealand team?

   • The Haitian team
   • Iraq
   • The Kuwaiti team
   • UAE
   Reveal Answer

8. 8. You'll likely remember that a Thierry Henry's hand ball aided France qualify at the Ireland's expense in 2009. However which player was Henry set up to score?

   • Nicolas Anelka
   • Karim Benzema
   • Player Gallas
   • Sidney Govou
   Show Result

9. 9. The sole men World Cup Argentina have attempted and failed to make it for occurred in 1970. Which nation secured their berth?

   • Brazil
   • Colombia
   • The Peruvian team
   • Uruguay
   Show Solution

10. 10. Román Torres' late decisive goal against the Costa Rican team secured a thrilling World Cup 2018 berth for what team?

    • Honduras
    • The Mexican team
    • Panama
    • Uruguay
    Show Result

11. Question 11. Which part did Peter Hore play in the Australian team's away goals defeat to Iran in a playoff for the 1998 FIFA World Cup?

    • Known as a notorious troublemaker, Hore went onto the pitch and damaged a goalpost net with Australia ahead 3-1 on aggregate. The break in the game allowed Iran to get back into the match and score two last-minute goals.
    • Socceroos defender Hore scored an own goal that sent the Iranian team into the finals at Australia' cost.
    • Being Australia foreign minister, Hore prevented the squad from going to Tehran, leading to a 3-0 loss they could not reverse in Melbourne city.
    • Peter Hore was a former Australia assistant coach who moved to Iran's coaching staff before the playoff matches.
    Reveal Solution

12. Question 12. The Australian team at last ended their lengthy wait for a 2nd World Cup showing by beating what nation on penalties in 2005?

    • The Iranian team
    • The Japanese team
    • The Peruvian team
    • The Uruguayan team
    Display Solution

13. 13. The Netherlands team whose 'total football' impressed the football world in 1974 almost did not make it, saved by a controversial linesman flag against ...

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

14. Question 14. Back in 2009, who got a last-minute winner for Argentina against the Peruvian team in pouring rainfall to save their qualifying bid?

    • Higuaín
    • Javier Mascherano
    • Lionel Messi
    • Martín Palermo
    Show Answer

15. 15. In the famous 'San Marino game' in 1993, how many goals did the English team need to defeat San Marino by to have a opportunity of making it for the World Cup?

    • Three goals
    • 5
    • Seven
    • 10 goals
    Reveal Result

Check your knowledge of these famous FIFA World Cup qualification moments and see the number you got right.