Big pay day for Eng players if they lift Cup in Russia

Bengaluru, December 4: England players will share a £5 million bonus if they win the 2018 World Cup in Russia but won't receive a penny if they head out of the competition from the group stage.

The Three Lions squad is in talks with the FA about the level of cash they will pocket if they do well in Russia next summer.

Player representatives and officials are in the latter stages of thrashing out a bonus scheme and a source close to the talks has told the media that the bonus will be around £5 million if England lift football's ultimate prize.

Shared among the 23-man squad, the cash incentive works out at £215,000 per player, about two week's pay for the likes of Spurs striker Harry Kane or Gary Cahill which is not a huge deal.

Bonuses are unlikely to kick in unless England reach the round of 16 but if they fail to qualify for at least the quarterfinals, it will be disappointing. The players will earn a combined £1m for reaching the knockout stages and more for reaching the last eight and semi-finals.

The squad failed to activate any bonus at the last World Cup in Brazil in 2014 after finishing bottom of their group following a series of woeful performances under Roy Hodgson.

The source said: "I don't think any of the players really believe they will win the World Cup next year but they still need to go through the motions and draw up incentives.

"If they go all the way and win it, they will be more than deserving of the £5 million."

Meanwhile, England manager Gareth Southgate has already banked £250,000 for guiding the team to Russia following a successful qualifying campaign and he could bank another £1 million for leading the nation to World Cup glory.