World Cup stars walking disciplinary tightrope ahead of quarter-finals

England's dramatic 3-2 last-16 victory over Mexico at the Azteca Stadium came at a cost: four of Thomas Tuchel's players are now walking a disciplinary tightrope. Marc Guehi, Nico O'Reilly and Declan Rice were all booked during the win, while Jude Bellingham had already been cautioned in the previous round against DR Congo. Jordan Henderson also received a yellow card late on against Mexico, but he is expected to undergo surgery on a wrist injury suffered while celebrating the victory, which may rule him out of the rest of the tournament.

How World Cup suspension rules work

Yellow cards picked up during the group stage were wiped before the last 32, so Rice's caution in the goalless draw with Ghana is irrelevant in the knockout stages. The same would have applied to Jarell Quansah, who was cautioned in England's subsequent group game against Panama, but the Bayer Leverkusen defender will miss the quarter-final through suspension after being sent off against Mexico — pending a possible England appeal.

Players who accumulate two yellow cards across the last 32, last 16 and quarter-finals serve an automatic one-match ban. If a player is cautioned in the last 32 and the last 16, he would miss the quarter-final. Bookings in either the last 32 or the last 16, and then the quarter-final, would rule him out of the semi-final.

Arsenal midfielder Rice was booked in the opening minute of the victory at the Azteca Stadium, while Manchester City duo Guehi and O'Reilly were cautioned after half-time. Bellingham, player of the match against the co-hosts, was shown a yellow card 19 minutes into England's victory over DR Congo.

However, yellow cards are reset again after the quarter-finals, so a player would only miss the final through suspension if he is sent off in the semi-final. Players who receive a red card — either straight or via two yellows in the same game — receive a one-match suspension. FIFA reserves the right to impose further sanctions if deemed necessary.

Other players at risk

Rice, Guehi, O'Reilly and Bellingham are not the only players hoping to avoid a booking in their next match. France trio Michael Olise, Bradley Barcola and Manu Kone were all cautioned in Les Bleus' battling last-16 victory over Paraguay. Ferran Torres was booked deep into stoppage time of Spain's last-16 win over Portugal and will miss the semi-final — should Spain get there — if he receives another yellow against Belgium.

Paris Saint-Germain's Achraf Hakimi is one of four Morocco players at risk of suspension after being booked against co-hosts Canada. Argentina, who survived an almighty scare against Egypt to reach the last eight, could be without Gonzalo Montiel in the semi-final if the holders make it that far. Three Switzerland players received bookings in their penalty shootout victory over Colombia, with Sunderland midfielder Granit Xhaka among those on the cusp of suspension.

England's quarter-final opponents Norway would be without Antonio Nusa in the semi-finals should the Scandinavians get the better of Tuchel's side and the winger receives a booking.