Members of Greece's World Cup squad, which played Costa Rica in the first round of the knockout stage on Sunday, sent a letter to Greek PM Antonis Samaras "rejecting bonuses for their historic streak." In "exchange, they are asking for a training facility to be built for the different categories of the national team." In the letter, which was signed by all 23 players and revealed by website Newsbomb.gr, the players wrote, "We only play for Greece and its people. We do not want extra money or a bonus. All we want is support for our effort to find a place where we can add facilities to host our national teams" (AS, 6/29). ... Dutch aerospace engineering company Ruimtevaartbedrijf SXC -- SXC for short -- has offered the Dutch national team a trip into space "if they managed to boldly go where no Dutch team has gone before and win the competition." SXC has promised the "23-man squad all a flight into space if they win their next four games and therefore the World Cup trophy." The Netherlands defeated Mexico 2-1 on Sunday to advance to the quarterfinals (London INDEPENDENT, 6/28). ... FIFA is "investigating a remarkable bust-up at the World Cup after claims Chile striker Mauricio Pinilla was punched by Brazil's communications director Rodrigo Paiva" at halftime of Saturday's match. Paiva, a "well-known figure in Brazilian football, has admitted to shoving Pinilla but said that he only did so in self-defence." A FIFA spokesperson said, "We can confirm there has been an incident and the disciplinary committee is currently analyzing the matter" (PA, 6/29). ... Nigeria media officer Ben Alaiya said that the squad will "travel for its World Cup second-round game against France as scheduled after canceling a training session amid reports of another pay dispute involving an African nation." Alaiya "declined to comment on reports that players were demanding bonuses owed to them and the Thursday night training session was canceled because of the dispute." Alaiya said that Nigeria "didn't turn up for the practice near its base in Campinas, north of Sao Paulo, because a team meeting ran too long." He "declined to comment on the subject of the meeting" (AP, 6/27).
