Players of Germany, Ghana's group opponents, would each earn a payout of $408, 300 if they win the 2014 World Cup in Brazil in a bid to boost the players to defeat the Black Stars and their other opponents.
The German Football Federation says team captain Philipp Lahm and the rest of the players quickly agreed to keep the same incentive scheme that was in place for last year's European Championship in Poland and Ukraine.
The scheme kicks in after the second round, with each player receiving 50,000 euros ($68,000) for reaching the quarterfinals, 100,000 euros ($136,000) for reaching the semifinals and 150,000 euros ($204,000) for the final — doubled if successful.
The decision was arrived at following a meeting between the association and the national team players, and team captain Philipp Lahm in particular.
Germany reached the semi-finals of last year’s European championships before being bundled out by a Mario Balotelli-inspired Italy, and they will no doubt be looking to improve on that showing in next year’s tournament.
The German Football Association president Wolfgang Niersbach said the talks were “uncomplicatedâ€, which he attributed to the level of faith and trust that exists between the association and the players.
He also said that the team's desire to do well in Brazil could be seen through the performance-related stipulations that they have attached to their bonuses, as they have now set themselves targets which they desire to achieve.
“The players have again demonstrated with this heavily performance-related stipulation that they are keen to be rewarded for good performances and I am particularly grateful to Helmut Sandrock (secretary-general) and captain Philipp Lahm," the secretary-general explained
“The national team wants to be successful in Brazil and if they are successful, then they will be rewarded accordingly."