MADRID - The 23 members of Spain's national team will each get a bonus of ß550000 (R5,7million) if they win the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, daily newspaper El Mundo reported yesterday.

MADRID - The 23 members of Spain's national team will each get a bonus of ß550000 (R5,7million) if they win the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, daily newspaper El Mundo reported yesterday.

The bonus, which is nearly double the ß250000 (R3,09million) that each member of the Spain squad that won the Euro 2008 championship collected, will be discussed over the coming days between the players and Spain's football federation, the newspaper reported.

Spain, who take on France in a friendly today, are considered to be one of the favourites to win the 2010 World Cup along with Brazil and England.

England squad members have been promised a bonus of ß450000 (R4,6million) each if they win the June 11-July 11 tournament while a figure of ß300000 (R3,1million) has been mentioned for Brazil, according to El Mundo.

But the bonus promised the Spain squad pales in comparison to the ß950000 (R9,8million) that Real Madrid players will receive as a reward if they win both the La Liga and the Champions League this year.

Spain hold the distinction of being the only side to ever be ranked No1 in the Fifa standings without winning a World Cup.

Their best placing remains fourth place in 1950.

The country would only appear in two more World Cups until 1978, but have qualified for every tournament since then.

Spain are in Group H alongside Chile, Honduras and Switzerland. - Sapa-AFP