Random World Cup Facts

The possibility that occurred to me when I read that post was (indeed) Australia in WCQ-98, but that was only 8 games. The same thing could have happened to Ireland in 2002 (which faced Iran in the playoff hitherto undefeated in qualifying) if they had lost out to Iran with 2 draws on away goals, but that is not what happened since they beat Iran 2:1 on aggregate (2:0 win in Dublin, 1:0 loss in Tehran) and qualified.

 

Israel in 2006 WCQ. 4 wins, 6 draws. Finished two points behind France and tied on points with Switzerland but finished behind on goal difference, finishing third despite not losing a game!

 

Wow interesting information about Israel 2006. I was thinking another team the WC b4 that

 

Which country have both Messi and Chris Ronaldo scored against at the World Cup?
The answer is Iran While Ronaldo failed to covert his penalty against Iran in WC18, his first goal at the World Cup was ironically from the penalty spot against Iran in WC2006.
Messi, on the other hand, scored Argentina's late winner against Iran in WC2014.

 

I think if the query comes from IM, you have a pretty good chance of being right if you answer Iran, no matter what the question is.

 

Clearly not OFC. I can't think of any between CAF teams, or AFC teams. But CONCACAF has had a few (Mexico-US, Mexico-El Salvador), and of course CONMEBOL and UEFA have had many.

Edit: Just thought of Australia having played Japan back when the Aussies were in OFC. Not sure if that counts.

 

We were representing OFC (which is why we weren't in the pot with other Asian teams) but had formally joined AFC earlier that year. I'm not sure if it counts either.

 

The AFC as a whole has a very good head-to-head record against CAF teams.

 

Another interesting tidbit related to this stat. This was actually the first successful WCQ process for France since 1986 WCQ. They failed to qualify for both 1990 and 1994, then qualified automatically for 1998 and 2002 as hosts and then as defending champions.

 

Btw, the other team is Morocco.. and actually it was incredibly also 2006. Morocco finished their group with 5 wins and 5 draws but a point behind Tunisia and with only the top team out of 6 going through. Pretty crazy that both teams, Israel and Morocco were from 2006 WC qualification cycle. Think that's it as far as I know

 

Ah, okay. I mixed this thread and the other one so I didn't realize you were looking for the same example. Either way it would have been cheating if I answered since I saw the other post.

 

Here's a question for you. What do the World Cups in 1958, 1982, 1990, 1994, and 2002 have in common?

 

They were all held at latitudes above the Tropic of Cancer, but somehow I feel like that isn't what you were going for... (and of course many other WCs were too, so it doesn't narrow it down enough anyway).

 

Yeah, these five World Cups have something the others don't have.

 

Not exactly, but you're on the right track.

 

So, all the world cups in which the irish team advanced from the first round. NI failed to do so in 1986.

 

Correct. All of those World Cups had a team from the island of Ireland advance to the second round. Northern Ireland actually won their group in 1982 over host Spain and Yugoslavia.

 

Speaking of Scotland, we all know they have the worst result when it comes to qualifying for the second round, with a 0 for 7 record. And for anyone who frequents this thread, you've probably heard IM moaning about how Iran is 2nd worst, with an 0 for 5 record. Who is next (actually tied with Iran at 0 for 5)?

Bonus points if you can identify which World Cup this team came closest to qualifying for Round 2.

 

Tunisia.
Closest time they advanced?
I'm guessing their first appearance in '78 when they beat Mexico and drew with West Germany (?)
I think they would have advanced had they defeated the Germans.

 

You nailed it. It's ironic that their first appearance back in 1978 was their best. Particularly given that Germany, the defending champion, and Poland, 3rd place team in both 1974 and 1982, were in their group.