Nine SPFL stars still involved in World Cup including Celtic and Rangers men as England clash looms

There were 21 SPFL players at the World Cup when it started which is the highest ever total, surpassing the 19 players from six Scottish clubs in 1990, although the finals have since expanded from 24 nations to 48.

Several have made notable contributions, none more so than Motherwell and New Zealand attacker Elijah Just, who netted three eye-catching goals across three group games to match the all-time record for most goals scored by a Scottish-based player at the World Cup, previously set by Celtic legend Henrik Larsson who netted three times for Sweden.

Just's double in the 2-2 draw with Iran and consolation goal in the 5-1 defeat by Belgium may not have been enough to keep New Zealand in the tournament as they finished bottom of Group G, but he certainly enhanced his reputation with a big-money transfer from Motherwell now appearing likely this summer.

He is not the only SPFL player to have found the net at the World Cup with three other Scottish-based goalscorers making their mark.

Celtic duo Daizen Maeda and Auston Trusty have both netted for Japan and USA respectively.

Maeda struck in the 1-1 draw with Sweden in the group stages, but suffered dejection in the round of 32 as Japan were eliminated by Brazil following a stoppage time winner from Gabriel Martinelli.

Trusty notched the opener for USA in their 3-2 defeat by Turkey but the co-hosts had already secured their place in the knockout phase where they will face Bosnia and Herzegovina at 1am BST on Thursday.

The Celtic defender is one of eight Scottish club players who remain actively involved in the World Cup - including his Parkhead team-mates Benjamin Nygren and Alistair Johnston.

Nygren appeared in all three of Sweden's group games, starting twice, as the Scandinavians progressed to the next round, where they will face France at 10pm BST on Tuesday night. Johnston, meanwhile became the first SPFL player to reach the last 16 after helping co-hosts Canada to a 1-0 victory over South Africa on Sunday. The Hoops full-back has played every minute thus far, while Derek Cornelius, who is included in the list of SPFL representatives having spent last season on loan at Rangers from Marseille, has also started every match for the Canadians.

Rangers are still represented at the World Cup by midfielders Thelo Aasgaard and Nico Raskin. Aasgaard, who found the net for Norway in their 4-1 defeat by France in Group I, helped his country progress to the round of 32 as group runners-up and will face Ivory Coast on Tuesday at 6pm BST.

Raskin, who made one start and two substitute appearances for Belgium as they qualified as Group G winners, is preparing for a last 32 clash against Senegal on Wednesday at 9pm BST.

Australia have also made it the first knockout stage and will be represented by Hearts midfielder Cammy Devlin and Livingston forward Teti Yengi when they face Egypt for a place in the last 16 on Friday (7pm BST). While Yengi featured as a substitute in the group matches against Turkey and Paraguay, Devlin has yet to play a single minute at the tournament.

The Tartan Army may have extra reason to wish Kilmarnock's Aaron Tshibola well with the midfielder part of the DR Congo squad that will face England in the last 32. The defensive midfielder was an unused substitute throughout the group stages but will hope to make his World Cup debut when his country takes on The Three Lions on Wednesday at 5pm BST.

The furthest any Scottish-based footballer has gone at a World Cup is the semi-finals in a feat achieved by two Celtic players. Henrik Larsson did so with Sweden in 1994, and Dedryk Boyata, who reached the last four with Belgium in 2018.