Why didn't Ireland make the World Cup?
438217
because they had a potato famine
470296
France didn't do well for sure.  But the ultimate failure at the last world cup was Saudi Arabia.\n\nThey had 0 points and 0 goals after 3 games in which they conceded 12 times!  They started off with a 0-8 capitulation to Germany (which barely missed on a World Cup record of largest scoreline), then went on to lose 0-1 to Cameroon, and finally 0-3 to Ireland.  \n\nI am not sure, but I believe that this was indeed the worst performance in World Cup history.
1008450
I think India qualified for the 1950 World Cup, but were unable to participate as they refused to wear football boots. They are currently ranked 117th in the world.
982886
Ireland cos they are not part of the UK
1069108
Just not good enough to match the higher International standard, as defeats to Portugal and Argentina showed.\n\nThe Confed Cup is a friendly tournament, this is the REAL thing.
1046563
Van Nistelroy because of the bad results he have been given in this World Cup, everyone thought that he would be one of the top scorers, but that failed. They also tough that they would win the match, so they didn't want to get Van Nistelroy tired.\n\nAlmost the same reason as Nistelroy, they didn't want to have Inzaghi tired for the next game. Italy tough that Australia was an extreme easy team to win, but in the field, Australia proved they were not.
1181354
Because they didn't get qualified in the preliminary round.
1042783
Are you watching the world cup because Iran didn't make the final 16 and in group D where Iran is it has the least point.
1170534
They were all present at Sweden 1958.\n\nScotland went out in the group stage without scoring a goal\nEngland went out in the group stage without losing a game \n(3 draws - they had to play a decider against USSR which they lost 1-0)\nNorthern Ireland topped their group then lost to France\nWales qualified second in their group then lost to Brazil  (who went on to beat Sweden in the final)
483069
Provided they don't slip up early in their group i think Italy can do it. They definitely have the squad but they tend to start slow and build to their best. Even though i'm Irish i always back the Italians - they have a solid defence and strong midfield - goals is the only problem but if Montella and Totti hit form this could be their year!!
341694
There is no world cup on 1997. 1998, france win the cup.
1176037
All three have teams that compete in Europe for the right to go to the World Cup.\n\nScotland finished third in Group 5 in Europe (won by Italy), Wales and Northern Ireland finished fifth and fourth respectively in Group 6 (won by England), and Ireland finished fourth in Group 4 (won by France).
1044480
England will stay true to form in this world cup . They will get out of the group stage ,convince themselves they are going to win it , lose to a half decent team due to no conviction and poor ta tics and then find some poor soul to blame the hole thing on. Here in Ireland we see this every tournament they enter.
1021068
Well Antartica but no one lives there, my next guess would be Oceania, because yes Australia did qualify but it is now considered to be part of Asia's Confederation (as of the beginning of 2006). It was to late to get another representitive country from Oceania. So for Oceania to really have a represtitive in the World Cup they must wait another 4 years.
1173933
Australia have yet to make the final of the World Cup finals, if that's what you mean. However, they have reached the finals twice (after battling through qualifying) this year and in 1974.
907519
I don't know. \n\nI have never understood this either.\n\nEngland, Scotland and Northern Ireland all have their own teams, as you say, for the WC & Euro cup for football & rugby, but when it comes to the Olympics we are Great Britain.
695578
i know for a fact, glenavon football club in northern Ireland had qualified for Europe for the first time in ages. the uefa official who was carrying out routine checks before the start of the game discovered one set of goalposts was 2 inches below regulation height. the embarrassing fact meant since the posts were erected 2 years previously teams were playing into different sized nets.