HAMBURG, June 29: Ukraine's players will receive a shared $8 million bonus for reaching the World Cup quarter-finals and coach Oleg Blokhin said on Wednesday hard work should always be well rewarded.

“Do you think they should just play for a 'thank you'?” Blokhin asked reporters.

“For good work you receive good money. If the players had been playing badly, they wouldn't have got a penny.”

Ukraine, making their debut at the tournament, face Italy on Friday after beating Switzerland 3-0 on penalties in the second round on Monday.

They have surpassed their pre-tournament aim of reaching the knockout stage so anything else is quite literally a bonus.

Blokhin stressed that money was not the main motivation for the players, but national pride. “They are playing for national honour ... it is also work.” —Reuters