Bobby Robson
England manager

"I had a bit of success at Ipswich, that was parochial, that was for the people of Suffolk, it was warm and smashing. This is for the country, it means so much more. It is for the people of Manchester, Plymouth, Carlisle, wherever they watch football because everyone loves it, no more than us."

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Argentina's number 10 has been in sparkling form so far during the tournament - but just how good is Diego Armando Maradona Franco?

He's certainly a more complete player than a Gary Lineker or a Tony Cottee, I think he's probably got more to his game than even Kenny Dalgish but could he do it on a wet Wednesday night in Luton? That's the acid test. The English First Division is a very different kettle of fish.

We are under way! Des looking as smooth as ever...

Daniel Beardmore, external: Bobby Robson and England have been excellent so far, just have to hope the luck of the gods is with us for this tough match

The Exiled Robin, external: Bit worried about having this Tunisian ref for such a big game, hope he doesn't get a big call wrong...

AbuDhalglish, external: Glad that they've got those 4th Officials with TV monitors up and running to avoid any controversial goal-scoring incidents

Mike: I imagine Maradona will have a hand in whatever happens.

The BBC coverage is about to start at the top of your screen. Join Des, El Tel & co now...

Image source, Getty Images

England have already enjoyed their best tournament since throwing away a 2-0 lead to lose their 1970 quarter-final to West Germany. Win today, and it's a place in the last four for the first time since 1966.

It was a shaky start for the Three Lions as defeat to Portugal and a 0-0 draw with Morocco left Bobby Robson's men on the verge of a very early cut.

But Gary Lineker's brilliant hat-trick saw off Poland, before the Everton goal-hanger snaffled two more as England beat Paraguay 3-0 here at the Azteca Stadium in midweek.

Argentina bossed Group A, drawing with reigning champions Italy and easily beating South Korea and Bulgaria.

Pedro Pasculli then scored the only goal in their second-round win over Uruguay to set up today's meeting. It's the third time England have met Argentina in a World Cup.

Geoff Hurst's header was enough for victory in the quarter-final of 1966, while Ron Flowers, Jimmy Greaves and Bobby Charlton all scored in a 3-1 win in Chile four years earlier.

Three out of three this afternoon?

Argentina: Pumpido; Brown, Cuciuffo, Ruggeri; Batista, Giusti, Olarticoechea, Henrique; Maradona; Burruchaga, Valdano.

England: Shilton; Stevens, Butcher, Fenwick, Sansom; Steven, Hoddle, Reid, Hodge; Lineker, Beardsley.

Referee: Ali Bin Nasser (Tunisia)

John Boyman, external: John Barnes has to start for England. Would be a big mistake to leave him on the bench until it's too late

Chris Noble, external: Lineker understands the game so well. I hope he goes into management in years to come and doesn't just end up as some TV pundit

Lewis Buckler, external: I've got money on Maradona 1st goal, Argentina to win 2-1.

Just the one change for England, and it comes at centre-half with QPR man Terry Fenwick coming back into the side after serving his one-match suspension. He replaces Alvin Martin and will once again partner Ipswich's Terry Butcher.

Up front, Peter Beardsley keeps his place alongside the revelation of the tournament, Gary Lineker. Lineker is level at the top of the golden boot standings with Spain forward Emilio Butragueno and Brazil man Careca. All three have five goals each.

Argentina make two changes from the win against Uruguay. In come Hector Enrique and Julio Olarticoechea, with Pedro Pasculli and Oscar Garre dropping out.

Stand by for the team news from the Azteca...

The teams are almost in, the die is cast, Maradona is poised.

There will be almost 115,000 spectators inside the Azteca Stadium and World Cup fever is rife.

But can England do it? Will Gary Lineker continue his red-hot form? Will that man Maradona make the difference? Are you happy with Bobby Robson's team selection?

Have your say. You can text in to 81111 (UK Only) or tweet us using the hashtag #86mexico., external

What is going on here then?

Don't worry, you've not entered some sort of parallel universe. We haven't found a flux capacitor and managed to get the time machine working - it is categorically not 1986.

But for the next few hours it is. This is World Cup Rewind, and the third of our five chosen classic games. Stay with us for full text and video coverage of the 1986 World Cup quarter-final between England and Argentina, with the BBC video kicking in at noon BST.

So play along, let us know your thoughts before and during the game. Alternatively, let us know your memories of the game and we'll include them in our 'Fast Forward' sections...

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Gary Lineker has been on fire, the Michael Laudrup inspired-Denmark were perhaps the most exciting team of the tournament, living up to their "Danish Dynamite" tag until they imploded in the second round - losing 5-1 to Spain with Emilio Butragueno scoring four goals.

But there's only one man who everyone is talking about in Mexico. Diego Maradona.

Image source, Getty Images

The Napoli man has been in sensational form, leaving defenders for dead with his near-perfect mix of touch, strength, pace, power and precision.

Quite frankly, he's a brilliant little man...

It feels like only last Friday that England lifted the World Cup trophy - but it's been a 20-year wait.

Is this their year?

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Into the last eight.

It's been a 16-year wait for England to make it this far in a World Cup finals, but after a slow start Bobby Robson has guided his men to this afternoon's clash with Argentina.

In Gary Lineker he has unearthed a striker of world-class potential, his team have played better and better each game and they are now just 90 minutes away from the semi-finals.

In their way stand 10 men and one genius. Can England triumph in the Azteca?