England Offered Caribbean Island Trip for World Cup Win

Virgin Atlantic airways boss, British tycoon Sir Richard Branson, offered England's soccer team a trip to his private Caribbean island Friday, but only if they win the World Cup. Branson, who owns Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands, made the offer after watching the national side beat Trinidad and Tobago 2-0 on Thursday evening to qualify for the knock-out stages of the competition in Germany. Branson, who was not in Nuremberg for the last-gasp victory, predicted that the trophy was "back within our grasp" 40 years after their first and only outright victory in the tournament. "If they succeed I'll fly the whole team to beautiful Necker Island to celebrate and enjoy a well-earned rest," he said. The bearded billionaire offers the exclusive retreat to wealthy holidaymakers for a reported 70,000 pounds (102,000 euros, $129,000) a week. Branson originally bought Necker in 1981 for about 200,000 pounds.