2010 FIFA World Cup Qualifying Quiz

Answer: Japan

Japan defeated Uzbekistan 1-0 in Tashkent, meaning neither Bahrain nor Qatar could beat them to second spot in AFC Group A. Australia, South Korea and The Netherlands qualified later the same day.

Answer: Ireland's

On November 18th 2009, on the last day of qualifying, France eliminated Ireland after drawing 1-1 at Stade de France in the second leg of their play-off. They had won 1-0 at Croke Park a few days earlier and progressed to the finals thanks to a 2-1 aggregate. Controversy surrounded the French goal in the second leg because France Thierry Henry appeared to handle the ball in the build up to William Gallas finding the net.

He admitted as such after the match, prompting the Football Association of Ireland to appeal to FIFA to have the tie replayed. FIFA were unmoved and France advanced at Ireland's expense.

Answer: USA

The USA scored 42 goals in qualifying, seven more goals than Mexico's tally of 36. Their biggest haul came in an 8-0 hammering of Barbados, in which Fulham midfielder Clint Dempsey scored in the first minute.

Answer: Bahrain

New Zealand defeated Bahrain 1-0 in Wellington, having drawn the first leg away 0-0. It was New Zealand's first appearance at the World Cup in 28 years. Bahrain cruelly missed out in the playoffs for the second successive World Cup, having been knocked out by Trinidad and Tobago four years earlier.

Answer: 6

Ghana, Nigeria, Algeria, The Ivory Coast, and Cameroon all progressed from their respective groups to join South Africa, who qualified automatically as hosts.

Answer: Wayne Rooney (England)

The impressive Wayne Rooney found the net 10 times for Fabio Capello's England during the qualifying phase. Eto'o (9), Forlan (7), and Cahill (4) were also prolific for Cameroon, Uruguay, and Australia, respectively. The top scorers in qualifying came from teams who didn't quite make it were Moumouni Dagano netted 12 times for Burkina Faso, whilst Osea Vakatalesau scored 12 goals for Fiji. Six of Vakatalesau's goals came in one match against Tuvalu, which Fiji won 16-0.

Answer: Diego Maradona (Argentina)

Many likened Argentina's qualifying run to a soap opera, with shock defeats such as a 5-1 defeat to Bolivia for one example, and eccentric methods juxtaposed with Maradona's frequent clashes with the media. Argentina's national squad trained in the afternoon during the qualifiers because Maradona liked to get up at noon. Alleged bickering among players and coaching staff led to a revolving door policy where 78 different players were called up in Maradona's first 10 months in charge.

Answer: New Zealand

The All Whites managed just 14 goals in qualifying, fewer than all of the other teams who advanced to the finals. It was a remarkable achievement for the Kiwis to get through, having been ranked #156 in the world by FIFA as recently as September 2007.

As it turned out, their tilt was based on a solid defence, with captain Ryan Nelsen as a regular first-team player for Blackburn Rovers in England's Premier League.

Answer: Egypt and Algeria

Egypt and Algeria both finished with 13 points from six games, with a goal difference of +5 (nine scored, four against). The build-up to the match was full of drama and tension, with Egyptian shops ransacked in Algiers and rumours of attacks on Algerian nationals in Cairo.

The match was played on neutral ground in Sudan, and Algeria prevailed 1-0, progressing to their first finals since 1986.

Answer: Uruguay

Uruguay drew 1-1 with Costa Rica, having beaten the same opponents 1-0 four days earlier in San Jose. Algeria, Portugal, France, Slovenia, and Greece had all qualified earlier in the day. Uruguay's eventual qualification ensured a star-studded line-up of finalists. South Africa 2010 was the first tournament in which all of the winners from 1930-2006 (Uruguay, Italy, Germany, Brazil, England, Argentina, France) appeared together.