Sports quiz of the week: World Cup heroics, shock defeats and sumo

Jess Fishlock, Onosato Daiki and Anthony Richardson. Composite: Getty Images

1. England beat Latvia 5-0 to book their place at the World Cup next summer. When did they last fail to qualify for the tournament?

   1. 1974

   2. 1986

   3. 1994

   4. 2006

2. 

   England have an incredible recent record in qualifying. They have not lost a World Cup qualifier since 2009, when they were beaten by …

   1. Sweden

   2. Belgium

   3. Ukraine

   4. Russia

3. Which country has qualified for the World Cup for the first time since they hosted it?

   1. South Korea

   2. South Africa

   3. Japan

   4. Paraguay

4. 

   Why was the World Cup qualifier between Wales and Belgium paused for five minutes this week?

   1. So fans in the stadium could watch the solar eclipse

   2. There was a rat on the pitch

   3. A section of the grass was too long so a groundsman had to cut it

   4. The referee lost a contact lens and had to go to the dressing room for a spare

5. Which footballer became his country’s top goalscorer this year and his country’s top assister this week?

   1. Memphis Depay

   2. Mohamed Salah

   3. Kylian Mbappé

   4. Alexis Sánchez

6. 

   Pico Lopes, who was born in Ireland and plays his club football for Shamrock Rovers, is going to the World Cup with Cape Verde. The centre-back has made 38 appearances for the team over the last six years. How did he receive his first call-up in 2019?

   1. He was spotted by a scout while starring in Ireland’s version of Love Island

   2. The Cape Verde manager sent him a message on LinkedIn

   3. He won gold at the Olympics in the triathlon and Cape Verde contacted him to ask if he played football too

   4. He was visiting family in Cape Verde, joined a match with locals and was asked to try out for the national team

7. All four of these countries will play at the World Cup next summer, but which is the odd one out based on their qualifying record?

   1. England

   2. Ivory Coast

   3. New Zealand

   4. Tunisia

8. Hull KR have won the rugby league treble for the first time in their history. They won​ the Super League Grand Final​, Challenge Cup final and which other trophy?

   1. Lancashire Cup

   2. League Leaders’ Shield

   3. Freedom Cup

   4. Charity Shield

9. Jack Wilshere has started his managerial career at the same club where he began his playing days at the age of eight. What is that club?

   1. Luton

   2. Stevenage

   3. Watford

   4. Cambridge United

10. 

    Valentin Vacherot’s victory at the Shanghai Masters makes him the lowest-ranked player ever to win an ATP 1000 event. What made the world No 204’s triumph even more special?

    1. He cancelled his wedding to play in the latter stages of the tournament

    2. He won the event on his birthday

    3. He beat his cousin in the final

    4. He grew up in the neighbourhood where the event was played

11. Anthony Richardson, the Indianapolis Colts backup quarterback, is out for a month after a freak injury involving which piece of gym equipment?

    1. A yoga mat

    2. A stretch band

    3. A kettle bell

    4. A treadmill

12. 

    Luke Littler won the World Grand Prix on Sunday, picking up £120,000 in prize money. What did he do on Monday?

    1. He showed off his trophy at the Warrington Wolves stadium, which was renamed in his honour

    2. He was beaten in the World Youth Championship

    3. He met Donald Trump on Air Force One

    4. He released his autobiography – at the age of 18

13. 

    Taylor Hinds has been called up to the England women’s team for the first time. She already has one international cap – for which country?

    1. Republic of Ireland

    2. Jamaica

    3. Canada

    4. Russia

14. 

    The Grand Sumo Tournament has only been held outside Japan twice in its long history: in 1991 and this week. Which venue hosted both events?

    1. Royal Albert Hall

    2. ​Madison Square Garden

    3. Carnegie Hall

    4. Sydney Opera House

15. What record did the snooker legend Mark Williams set this week in China?

    1. The most career 147s by any player

    2. The most centuries in a 19-frame match

    3. The oldest winner of a ranking tournament

    4. He won a tournament without losing a single frame

16. 

    Tadej Pogacar won the Giro di Lombardia cycling race on Sunday, capping an amazing season. He has finished on the podium at the five biggest one-day races this year – the five Monuments. The races all have nicknames. What is Il Lombardia’s nickname?

    1. The hell of the north

    2. The race of the falling leaves

    3. The old lady

    4. The big grass snake

17. The Wales legend Jess Fishlock is retiring from international football. Not only is she the team’s top scorer and most capped player, she also scored their first goal in an international tournament. Who were Wales playing?

    1. England

    2. Netherlands

    3. France

    4. Sweden

Solutions

1:C - In the USA – where the bulk of the 104 games will be played next summer., 2:C - It was a different time altogether. Gordon Brown was the prime minister, Fabio Capello was the England manager, and Manchester United had appeared in the last two Champions League finals., 3:B - It will be their first time at the tournament since 2010., 4:B - The story was embarrassing for Cardiff City, whose stadium hosted the game. “It’s something I’ve not seen in my 36 years,” said the club’s head of operations. “We’ve had a stray dog on the pitch but this was something new, a freak of nature. We pick up litter and food like half-eaten burgers straight after games. Everything is put away. They say you are never too far from a rat, especially in cities, and this one managed to get in. People have seen a rat on the pitch as quite funny, but it does have serious undertones.”, 5:A - Depay has 54 goals (two more than Robin van Persie) and 35 assists (two more than Wesley Sneijder) for the Netherlands. , 6:B - The message from the manager said: “I am the coach of the Cape Verde national team. I would like to know if you would be interested in joining the team. We are renewing the group and we intend to be present at the 2022 World Cup, which would be historic. The team is good, and the environment is good too. I await feedback. I speak English if necessary.” , 7:C - New Zealand are the only team of the four to concede a goal on their way to qualification – in an 8-1 victory over Vanuatu. , 8:B - If they win the World Club Challenge, they will seal a quadruple. , 9:A - “It’s a huge honour and a privilege to be named Luton Town manager,” he said. “It feels like a full-circle moment for me. I was eight when I first came to Luton as a boy, so I guess you could say it’s fate that my first full-time club managerial position is at this club. I couldn’t be more delighted to be here.” , 10:C - “It is unreal what just happened,” said Vacherot. “I have no idea what is happening right now. I am not even dreaming, it is just crazy. There has to be one loser but I think there are two winners today. One family that won and I think for the sport of tennis, the story is unreal.” Arthur Rinderknech, the losing finalist, added: “Valentin, you gave everything. I am so happy for you. Two cousins are stronger than one.” , 11:B - Richardson suffered a fractured eye socket in his pre-game warm-up when an elastic stretch band snapped a pole, causing it to hit him in the face. , 12:B - Littler was beaten by Beau Greaves, who has become the first woman to reach the final of the World Youth Championship. Her nickname is Beau ‘n’ Arrow. Superb. , 13:B - The Arsenal left-back played for Jamaica in a friendly against France last year but has now declared for England. , 14:A - The event sold out some time ago. , 15:C - Williams beat Shaun Murphy 10-3 to win the Xi’an Grand Prix at the age of 50 years and 206 days – surpassing Ray Reardon’s record set in 1982., 16:B - So called because of its autumnal billing. , 17:C - It was her 48th goal for her country.

Scores

1. 1 and above.

   Ah well. Better luck next week.

2. 2 and above.

   Ah well. Better luck next week.

3. 3 and above.

   Ah well. Better luck next week.

4. 4 and above.

   Ah well. Better luck next week.

5. 5 and above.

   Ah well. Better luck next week.

6. 6 and above.

   Ah well. Better luck next week.

7. 7 and above.

   Nice work. Have a good weekend.

8. 8 and above.

   Nice work. Have a good weekend.

9. 9 and above.

   Nice work. Have a good weekend.

10. 10 and above.

    Nice work. Have a good weekend.

11. 11 and above.

    Nice work. Have a good weekend.

12. 12 and above.

    Superb scoring. Have a great weekend.

13. 13 and above.

    Superb scoring. Have a great weekend.

14. 14 and above.

    Superb scoring. Have a great weekend.

15. 15 and above.

    Superb scoring. Have a great weekend.

16. 16 and above.

    Superb scoring. Have a great weekend.

17. 0 and above.

    Ah well. Better luck next week.

18. 17 and above.

    Superb scoring. Have a great weekend.