Ukraine coach Oleg Blokhin reacts during a soccer training session in Potsdam June 28, 2006, ahead of Friday's quarter-final against Italy during the World Cup 2006 tournament.[Reuters]

"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 rather national pride.

"They are playing for national honour ... it is also work," he said. "I told them that the players in this team will play first of all for prestige and not the money."

Friday's game in Hamburg kicks off at 1900 GMT and the winner will face either Germany or Argentina.