They will play their hearts out to win the Cup for Diana

WIN or lose, England's World Cup stars will emerge as champions after their opening match tomorrow - thanks to an extraordinary gesture in honour of Princess Diana.

Big-hearted players, who stand to make a fortune from the tournament, plan to plough back some of their windfall into the Princess Of Wales Memorial Fund.

The further Glenn Hoddle's 22-man squad progress, the more cash they will be able to hand over from their pool of bonuses and sponsorship money.

The team hope to crown the donation by winning the trophy on July 12.

A source said: "The lads were all very moved by Diana's death and the final in Paris is just seven weeks from the anniversary of the crash.

"Many of the players, including captain Alan Shearer, have decided they want to make a donation to the Fund."

Players are guaranteed at least pounds 4.5million in their pot. It's made up of cuts from the FA's World Cup sponsorship deals with firms (pounds 2.5million), appearance and bonus fees (pounds 880,000) and percentages of individual endorsements (pounds 1.2 million).

That is expected to swell to pounds 8 million if England lift the Cup.

Currently each player gets pounds 1,500 per match. Even if England fail to make it to the second round knockout, players still receive a bonus of pounds 40,000 each (total pounds 880,000). If they win the tournament, they get a bonus of pounds 60,000 (total pounds 1.3 million). But that's just from the FA. All the team's contracts with firms have cash spin-offs too.

A percentage of those will be paid by the FA into the players' pool.

The seven main World Cup sponsors of the England team are: Green Flag, Umbro, Carlsberg, Coca-Cola, Proctor and Gamble, Canon and BP.

The FA itself will receive a total of pounds 20million from these, rising to pounds 22.2 million if the team reaches the final and pounds 26.2 million if they win.

Five per cent of that - between pounds 1 million and pounds 1.3 million depending on how well they do - goes into the pool.

Then there are so-called "second-line" sponsorships between the FA and England with companies such as Sainsbury and Snickers. These will boost the pool by pounds 1.5 million to pounds 3 million.

But the major benefits if they win the Cup will come from individual endorsements.

For example, young striker Michael Owen stands to pick up pounds 1 million from a football boot deal.

It is these windfall payments that will boost the pool to pounds 8 million. Cash will be divided between players who will then decide on any charity donations.

A similar donation was made when England played their first match after Diana's death last year. The players gave up their pounds 1,000 appearance fees in the World Cup qualifier against Moldova at Wembley, 10 days after the car crash which killed the Princess.

On that occasion, England and Newcastle star Robert Lee told how the tragedy had deeply affected the squad.

He said: ""When someone of that stature dies, you pause and think for long periods.

"I've done that in the last few days, whether driving in the car, sitting at home or whatever.

"But even then you can't believe it's really happened.

"But it has and it's an absolute tragedy - such a terrible thing to have happened. All the England squad feel the same way.""

Under Glenn Hoddle, the squad has also previously made donations to the orphans of Moldova and to poverty-stricken children in Tbilisi, Georgia.

Yesterday an FA source said the players would decide among themselves what charity donations to make from their pool.

He confirmed that one to the Princess Of Wales Memorial Fund has been discussed by the team.

It is not known at this stage whether the FA will make a separate donation of its own to any charity concerns.

Diana's former butler Paul Burrell said last night: ""I am absolutely delighted at this.

"It is a kind and generous gesture by the players and I wish them all good luck."

Diana and Dodi's bodyguard quits - Page 9

HOW THEIR CASH ROLLS IN

Each World Cup match pounds 1,500

First Round bonus pounds 40,000

Winning the Cup pounds 60,000

Total for squad including

deals from seven main

sponsors and individual

endorsements pounds 4.5 million

If England win the Cup pounds 8 million

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