World Cup 2018: Top 4 Clubs with the Most Players in the Semi-finals

The greatest sporting event of the year is now approaching its most intense phase. 60 matches have been played and 28 teams have been eliminated. As the 2018 FIFA World Cup semi-finals get underway tomorrow, we are only left with four teams that can stake a legitimate claim to the ultimate trophy in world football.

France, Belgium, England and Croatia are the only four sides remaining and we will see France take on Belgium in the first semi-final, while England and Croatia will fight it out in the second semi-final.

All four sides have been phenomenal in the competition and will undeniably be disappointed with an elimination at this stage. That being said, all teams are represented by a number of quality players, most of whom play for the top European clubs.

In fact, 44 of the 92 players remaining in the competition play for 8 European clubs. While the likes of Barcelona, AS Monaco, Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain are represented by 4 players each, the top 4 clubs have a staggering combined representation of 28 players.

Without further ado, here is a look at the 4 clubs who have the most players playing in the semi-finals of the 2018 FIFA World Cup:

#4 Chelsea: 5 Players

The winners of the 2017/18 FA Cup, Chelsea may have finished the Premier League season in fifth place, but a number of their players put in good performances to earn themselves spots in their respective national sides.

Among the 92 players in the semi-finals of the World Cup, 5 players are from Chelsea. Eden Hazard and Thibaut Courtois will play huge roles for Belgium. The former has already scored 2 goals and assisted 2 more, while the latter has been solid between the sticks.

For France, N'Golo Kante and Olivier Giroud have been crucial thus far and are both are expected to feature in the semi-final. Kante hasn't missed a single minute for France all competition, while Giroud has been an ideal target man, allowing the likes of Antoine Griezmann and Kylian Mbappe to play off of him.

Gary Cahill is Chelsea's 5th player at the semi-finals. He has played only one game for The Three Lions and is expected to warm the bench when England take on Croatia in the second semi-final.

#3 Manchester City: 7 Players

Under Pep Guardiola's excellent guidance, Manchester City enjoyed one of their best seasons ever, running away with the Premier League title as well as the EFL Cup.

The Spanish tactician had a positive influence on a number of players who seem to have carried their form into the World Cup.

Naturally, the Premier League champions are also very well represented at the tournament, with as many as 7 players still surviving the bloodbath that this tournament has gone on to become.

Kyle Walker, John Stones (2 goals), Raheem Sterling (1 assist) and Fabian Delph are all part of the English contingent, with the first three playing prominent roles in England's run so far. Delph has only played 130 minutes in the competition but will also be given a winner's medal if England manage to win.

Vincent Kompany, who has returned from injury, and Kevin De Bruyne, who has a goal and assist to his name, make up City's representation in the Belgium squad, while Benjamin Mendy, who has only played 40 minutes in this competition, is the sole French player from Pep Guardiola's club side.

#2 Manchester United: 7 Players

Manchester City are level with their arch-rivals Manchester City in this aspect

Having enjoyed their best season (in terms of points) since Sir Alex Ferguson departed, Manchester United also boast of significant representation at the World Cup semi-finals, with as many as 7 players still remaining in the tournament.

Much like the case with Manchester City, most of United's players play for England with Jesse Lingard, Phil Jones, Ashley Young and Marcus Rashford making up the English contingent. Jones and Rashford have struggled to break into the main team, while Lingard (1 goal and 1 assist) and Young (1 assist) have been splendid.

Marouane Fellaini and Romelu Lukaku are United's Belgian players with both men putting in crucial efforts along Belgium's road to the semi-final. Fellaini has been used a fair bit and has also chipped in with a goal, while Lukaku has been in red-hot form, scoring 4 goals and assisting 1 more for Belgium.

France's Paul Pogba is United's 7th player in the semi-finals and has bossed around the midfield in almost every game.

#1 Tottenham Hotspur: 9 Players

Astonishingly, at the top of this list lie Tottenham Hotspur and not other European superpowers like Real Madrid and Barcelona.

Spurs may have endured another trophyless season, but that hasn't stopped their players from absolutely owning the World Cup.

As many as 9 players from Tottenham belong to the 4 semi-finalist sides, with a majority of them belonging to England and Belgium.

England's captain and Tottenham's beloved heart-throb Harry Kane is joined by Danny Rose, Eric Dier, Kieran Trippier and Dele Alli. Kane is the tournament's leading goalscorer with 6 goals, while Rose and Dier have struggled to seal a permanent spot in the side. Alli has scored 1 goal, while Trippier has notched 1 assist.

The Belgian side features 3 Spurs players, namely Toby Alderweireld, Jan Vertonghen and Mousa Dembélé. The first two have been the heart of the Red Devils' defence while Dembele has impressed at every given opportunity.

Last, but not the least, Tottenham Hotspur and France captain Hugo Lloris has been very instrumental in goal, making a fine save against Uruguay that eventually saw them qualify for the semi-final.

Edited by Rohith Nair