Everyone ready? Pavarotti is clearing his throat, Des Lynam has smoothed his moustache. We are almost at transmission time.

Duncan, Isleworth: Quietly confident... even if it goes to pens. I know England have never been involved in a shootout before but reckon we'll be great at them. #shootoutspecialists

There's no reason why not Duncan. Sound technique throughout

Christopher:, external Mum sent my 11- year-old self to bed at half-time. Dad was at work, rang to see if all OK, found out what she'd done and made her get me up!

Image source, Getty Images

I notice that Die Hard 2 hits the cinemas on this fine day - but if it's an all-action sequel you want, I suggest you stick with matters in Turin. John McClane has got nothing on Terry Butcher.

England got the better of West Germany 24 years ago, but four years on in Mexico it was the boys from Bavaria who were laughing. Since then of course the Germans have won it in 1974, and been losing finalists on each of the last two tournaments.

Third time lucky?

Callum, Staffordshire: I'm only seven, I hope if this match goes to extra time and penalties that I'm allowed to stay up past my bedtime!

Sportswriter David Lacey in the Guardian:, external "Even now, the idea of England playing in the 1990 World Cup final stretches the imagination. After so many years of non-achievement it is difficult to come to terms with the fact that if West Germany are beaten in Turin Bobby Robson will end his career as England manager in Rome on Sunday in a position to emulate Alf Ramsey's triumph of 1966.

"Either that or Robson's valediction will be Saturday's third-place game in Bari, an anti-climax even with Italy as opponents. Yet as an achievement this would far exceed the majority of expectations and begs the question of the Football Association's position concerning a change of manager."

Peter Shilton
England goalkeeper at Italia 90

"We knew we'd had a slice of luck against Cameroon in the quarter-finals but we were feeling very good in the run-up to the West Germany game. We knew it would be a tough game but we were confident that we could cause them problems. We didn't think Argentina were as good as they were in 1986 so we were keen to get into the final and face them.

"You can't afford to think about the occasion or how many people are watching at home, you've just got to focus on doing your job properly. It was a lovely night though and a fabulous stadium. I remember thinking to myself 'enjoy this'."

Four England players are on one booking and will miss the final if they receive another. They are Paul Gascoigne, Steve McMahon, Peter Beardsley and Stuart Pearce.

There are three West Germany players also on one booking. They are Lothar Mathaus, Jurgen Klinsmann and Thomas Berthold.

Stay on your feet!

Joe, Southend: I wasn't even alive for this match... but I can feel the passion that every England fan prior to my life has about this game!

Steve, Leicester: I remember being at RAF Cottesmore with German, English and Italian pilots. Night flying exercises were cancelled and we all were in the NAAFI watching on the giant screen. Great atmosphere great friends.

I can assure you licence fee payers that there was no expense spared on that team graphic. I've just seen Des Lynam heading into the studio, he'll be on air in 20 minutes.

W. Germany: Illgner; Berthold, Buchwald, Augenthaler, Kohler, Brehme; Hassler, Matthaus, Thon; Voller, Klinsmann. Subs: Reuter, Aumann, Riedle, Steiner, Moller.

England: Shilton; Parker, Wright, Walker, Butcher, Pearce: Waddle, Platt, Gascoigne; Lineker, Beardsley. Subs: Woods, Dorigo, McMahon, Steven, Bull.

Referee: Jose Roberto Wright (Brazil).

Just the one change for England, as expected. Peter Beardsley comes in for the injured John Barnes and defenders Des Walker and Mark Wright have both been passed fit. Wright has six stitches above his left eye.

West Germany bring in Thomas Hassler and Olaf Thon for Pierre Littbarski and Uwe Bein. Rudi Voller also returns in place of Karl-Heinz Riedle after serving a one-match suspension for an altercation with the Netherlands' Frank Rijkaard, in an infamous spitting incident.

Here comes the team news from Turin. Ed in London, I've got bad news...

Louis:, external I just don't think we can do it. The Germans have been great all tournament, but we won't half give it a go!

James:, external Gazza is the new Maradona. He'll see us through today and avenge the outrage that was 1986!

Ed, London: I hope Sir Stephen George Bull aka God gets a run-out today!

Lawrence, Bedfordshire: Why has Waddle cut his hair?! We're on a winning run, it's just bad luck to change things. Or am I being overly superstitious?

I have no doubt in my mind that this World Cup will go down in history as the year of the haircut.

Men's hairstyling has never been better...

Image source, Getty Images

While England's Rover 200 has spluttered its way across Italy to Turin, the West Germans have been cruising down the autobahn in all-wheel drive style.

Franz Beckenbauer's men have scored 13 goals already in the tournament, but were made to work hard by Czechoslovakia in the quarter-finals, with Lothar Matthaus scoring the only goal from the spot.

Matthaus has been, for my money, the man of the tournament. What a player. Will England play Steve McMahon to shackle the German maestro?

We will have team news with you shortly...

Anonymous: My lifetime's ambition was to see the Rolling Stones live in concert and I had tickets to see them live on July 4th 1990. Instead I sat in a bedsit and watched England go out on penalties.

Please do not forget to include your name and location with any text message you send in.

Their first semi-final in 24 years - but how have England got this far?

That's a good question. A very good question.

If we're being honest, Bobby Robson's men should have gone out to Cameroon in the quarter-finals, were lucky to beat Belgium, played sloppily against the Republic of Ireland, and were poor against Egypt.

But hey, they played well in a 0-0 draw with the Netherlands. And they can't be bad again tonight. Can they?

Ryan, Brighton: C'mon England! Gazza will make the Germans cry! Hope he can avoid a booking so we can get revenge on Argentina in the final.

Matthew, Skipton: Massive match. Lineker can poach us a goal from anywhere but I have a bad feeling about two things. Paul Parker running to block free kicks and Gazza's mental state.