Getting Greece's European champions in the right frame of mind for the World Cup qualifier against Albania on Saturday could depend on soccer association officials turning up in Tirana on Friday with a chequebook.

The bonuses for Greece's upset Euro 2004 victory in Portugal in July have become a bone of contention with the team saying they are disappointed that government officials went back on their initial promise to be generous.

"We are left with a bitter taste, not because of the financial part but because they went back on their word," the players said in a statement.

The players want one million euros ($1.22 million) each but the Greek state says it can only afford four million euros to be divided among the 23 squad members, around 173,000 euros each, the same amount it gives to Olympic medal winners.

The Hellenic Football Federation (EPO) stepped in on the side of the players, saying the state's offer was not enough.

"The players must get one million euros each," said EPO president Vassilis Gagatsis. "It was they who got all those people out celebrating on the streets, not the Olympic medals."

The EPO is expected to try to defuse the row by topping up their own separate bonuses to the players so that the final total sum per player reaches 700,000 euros, Greek newspapers reported.

EPO officials were not immediately available for comment, but were widely expected to meet players in Tirana on Friday and hand out cheques ahead of Saturday's Group Two match.

Greece's German coach Otto Rehhagel refused to be drawn into the debate.

"We have come for the three points," he said. "The coach deals only in the sporting issues of the team."