Wanderers Pair Eliminated From World Cup Duty

By Mark Heys
October 13 2005

Bolton pair Tal Ben-Haim and Stelios Giannakopoulos will not be going to next years World Cup Finals in Germany after Israel and Greece both failed to qualify from their respective groups this week. The Greeks managed to beat Georgia thanks to a goal coming from ex-Burnley striker Dimi Padadopoulos but other results in the Group Two qualifiers meant that the 2004 European Champions would be staying at home next summer.

Israel also failed to qualify from Group Four but gave things a good go throughout the qualifying campaign as they kept a record without defeat through the campaign. France and Switzerland stood in the way of a trip to Germany for Ben-Haim and the rest of the Israelis.

However, Mexico's Jared Borgetti, Radhi Jaidi of Tunisia and Hidetoshi Nakata of Japan will be representing the Wanderers at next years finals.

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