17 stars on brink of World Cup semi-final ban including England heroes | Football | Sport

1. Tournament card rules: According to regulations for the this summer’s World Cup, players who receive two yellow cards before the quarter-finals face an automatic one-match ban. These cautions were wiped after the group stage and will be wiped again after the quarter-finals to protect players for the final.
2. The list of seventeen: A total of 17 international players are on disciplinary eggshells heading into the last-eight ties. Any of these players who pick up a booking in the next round will be completely ruled out of participating in the semi-finals should their nation progress.
3. England’s disciplinary headache: Thomas Tuchel’s squad is brimming with confidence following a breathtaking 3-2 triumph over Mexico, yet several key first-team regulars are just one poorly-timed challenge away from a damaging suspension. Four prominent England stars are currently confirmed to feature on this cautionary list as they gear up to face Norway on Saturday night.
4. Declan Rice: As the principal holding midfielder, the Arsenal man is frequently called upon to neutralise opposition counter-attacks. He is one booking away from a semi-final ban, meaning he must choose his moments carefully during the clash with Norway.
5. Jude Bellingham: The Real Madrid talisman has been pivotal to England’s progress, yet he heads into the next match carrying a potentially costly yellow card. Bellingham has delivered some scintillating performances thus far, forging a devastating partnership with Harry Kane.
6. Nico O’Reilly: The promising Manchester City youngster has found himself unexpectedly placed on the suspension watchlist alongside far more seasoned international colleagues. Should he pick up a booking in the forthcoming fixture in Miami, it would be a crushing blow to what has been a breakthrough World Cup campaign.
7. Marc Guehi: The Man City defender is equally at risk of being ruled out of the semi-finals if he collects another yellow card. On a more positive note, bookings will be wiped clean after the semi-finals. This means that a caution in that match will carry no suspension risk heading into the final.
8. International stars at risk: The list of 17 players stretches well beyond the England camp and includes several high-profile names from competing nations. Notable figures including Morocco defender Achraf Hakimi and Switzerland captain Granit Xhaka find themselves in precisely the same precarious position as the tournament continues to gather pace.
9. Read more: Will Declan Rice be banned for England World Cup quarter after second yellow vs Mexico?

Full list of the 17 players at risk of a World Cup semi-final ban:

1. Issa Diop – Morocco
2. Achraf Hakimi – Morocco
3. Bilal El Khannouss – Morocco
4. Redouane Halhal – Morocco
5. Nico O’Reilly – England
6. Declan Rice – England
7. Marc Guehi – England
8. Jude Bellingham – England
9. Manu Kone – France
10. Michael Olise – France
11. Granit Xhaka – Switzerland
12. Denis Zakaria – Switzerland
13. Miro Muheim – Switzerland
14. Ferran Torres – Spain
15. Antonio Nusa – Norway
16. Brandon Mechele – Belgium
17. Gonzalo Montie – Argentina