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32 players who'll miss semis with another yellow card

Yahoo Sport Australia

The World Cup has reached its business end but for 32 players dreaming of a spot in the semi-finals, one slip up in the last-eight will see their dreams turn into a nightmare.

Tonight marks the start of the World Cup quarter-finals, with some players walking a disciplinary tightrope as the competition heats up.

Although all bookings are wiped out after the quarter-finals, any player picking up their second caution of the tournament at this stage, would be banned for the semi-finals.

FIFA changed the rules in 2010 so players will not be banned from the final if they pick up their second booking in the semi-final and only if they were sent off in the last four. But that does not come into effect until after the quarter-final games are played.

And it means some big names could miss out on the biggest game of their careers so far, if they go into the referee’s notebook over the next couple of days.

For England, regular starters Jordan Henderson, Jesse Lingard and Kyle Walker have all been cautioned, whilst Ruben Loftus-Cheek is also one booking away from suspension.

England’s Lingard will have to watch his discipline against Sweden. Pic: Getty
England’s Lingard will have to watch his discipline against Sweden. Pic: Getty

Brazil are perhaps in the most precarious position, with Neymar and Phillippe Coutinho, their two most creative players, both walking a disciplinary tightrope.

France could lose Olivier Giroud or Paul Pogba, whilst Kevin De Bruyne is in danger for Belgium.

Croatia are the side most at risk, with eight players already booked, whilst Rodrigo Bentancur is the only Uruguayan on a yellow card.

The full list of players who have been booked and would be suspended for the semi-finals if they received another yellow card in the quarter-finals is below.

FRANCE
Olivier Giroud
Benjamin Pavard
Paul Pogba
Corentin Tolisso

Pogba could find it hard to stay out of the referee’s book against Uruguay. Pic: Getty
Pogba could find it hard to stay out of the referee’s book against Uruguay. Pic: Getty

URUGUAY
Rodrigo Bentancur

BELGIUM
Kevin De Bruyne
Leander Dendoncker
Thomas Meunier
Youri Tielemans
Jan Vertonghen

De Bruyne will have to be careful when Belgium face Brazil. Pic: Getty
De Bruyne will have to be careful when Belgium face Brazil. Pic: Getty

BRAZIL
Philippe Coutinho
Felipe Luis
Neymar

ENGLAND
Jordan Henderson
Ruben Loftus-Cheek
Jesse Lingard
Kyle Walker

SWEDEN
Viktor Claesson
Albin Ekdal

Rakitic is one of eight Croatians facing the threat of suspension. Pic: Getty
Rakitic is one of eight Croatians facing the threat of suspension. Pic: Getty

CROATIA
Marcelo Brozovic
Vedran Corluka
Tin Jedvaj
Mario Mandzukic
Marko Pjaca
Ivan Rakitic
Ante Rebic
Sime Vrsaljko

RUSSIA
Yury Gazinsky
Aleksandr Golovin
Ilya Kutepov
Fyodor Smolov
Roman Zobnin

With Yahoo Sport UK