We've not had a draw yet in this World Cup...

BBC Sport Chief Football Writer Phil McNulty in Manaus

"A banner is being held up saying "Manaus Loves England" - this comes after manager Roy Hodgson has twice had to defend himself in press conferences against accusations he was disparaging about the city when the World Cup draw was made.

"Hodgson was clearly irked by the suggestion and was keen to emphasise how warm - in every sense - England's welcome has been."

The teams are in the tunnel then. England are wearing all white, as they will for all three games.

Here we go...

Former England defender Rio Ferdinand

"Steven Gerrard's had to fall back into a position where he's not bombing up and down but he's an intelligent player. He did it a bit in that number four role when he was young and he's got all the attributes to be able to do that."

England have only won two of their last 11 internationals against Italy, with the one previous World Cup meeting seeing Italy win the third-placed play-off in 1990.

Wayne Rooney has scored in all six competitive games since Euro 2012.

Thierry Henry
Former France and Arsenal striker

"Mario Balotelli has to find some consistency. It is about time, like Wayne Rooney, he has to perform for more than six, seven, eight years."

Former England defender Rio Ferdinand

"When I played against Emile Heskey he was big and strong, like a heavyweight boxer, but with a nice personality and I don't get involved with him because I didn't want to get him angry. With Mario Balotelli you've got to kick him and get that petulant side out of him, get him mad and get him to lose his concentration

"Everyone says he could be the best player in the world but he has to put it together week in, week out not just every now and again.

"Sometimes it's the mood he turns up in. The Mario Balotelli that turned up at Euro 2012 was probably the best number nine in that tournament. He could have had two or three goals against us."

Comedian Jack Whitehall is involved...

Quarter of an hour to go everyone.

Time for one more visit to the bar, one more cup of tea, one more nerve-easing break...

BBC Sport's Dan Roan in Manaus

England haven't beaten a footballing power in a major tournament for 12 long years. This team can end that run. It's time.

BBC Sport Chief Football Writer Phil McNulty in Manaus

"Helicopter circling the stadium. Arena Amazonia filling up. England and Italy out finishing their warm-ups. Getting a real sense of a big World Cup occasion now.

"England's players have returned to the dressing room and it will soon be time for captain Steven Gerrard to deliver his message to his team-mates before they come out.

"It will go something like this: "I will probably say something in the dressing room. Not just from myself, there will be a lot of verbal exchanges in there, but towards the end when we are ready to go out it will be' let's not have any regrets'.

"All the preparation is there. Let's believe we have all the energy, all the work in the legs, in the tank. Let's relax and let it happen. The key is just to not come off the pitch with any regrets and basically do what it takes to get that result."

Image source, AFP

BBC Radio 5 live

Former Chelsea striker Gianluca Vialli on BBC Radio 5 live: "The problem with England is that for about four years you are very disillusioned and depressed when it comes to the national team and then one month before the World Cup confidence goes through the roof and people start talking about winning it. I don't think the English players are good at handling that pressure.

"The Italians are the opposite, we grew up eating pressure for breakfast and that might be the difference between the two sides, because on paper we are not too far away from each other."

Yes Brent!

David, Ormskirk: If things aren't going right at half time then the change has to be Barkley and Lallana for Welbeck and Henderson. They will need at least 30 minutes to make an impact, not 10 minutes.

Brent, London: Huge for Italy missing Gigi Buffon, but almost as bad for us fans missing his passionate Fratelli d'Italia! No-one does their anthem better.

We are 15 minutes from kick-off.

Italy's anthem is one of the greats, a real humdinger. And Gigi Buffon sings it like no other. He'll be a big loss. Can Salvatore Sirigu deliver?

BBC World Service journalist John Bennett: "Brazilian TV pundits singling out Raheem Sterling for praise. "Dangerous & quick." If Brazilians like you, you know you're special."

Former England defender Rio Ferdinand

"It's not just Pirlo they have to worry about, Daniele De Rossi and Marco Veratti can put the ball on a sixpence. When they look up, Balotelli can get in behind and England have to be wary of that."

Alan Shearer
BBC Sport

"I'm not sure what Uruguay's defeat to Costa Rica will do to the group but I'm sure it will spur Uruguay on. They were obviously without Suarez but now they have to win against England on Thursday. They can't play for a point."

Jonathan:, external What does Hodgson see in Welbeck? What does he offer? Lallana should be starting ahead of him.

Steve:, external My fear is with Glen Johnson, tends to give opposition wingers far too much room and is liable to go walkabout.

Mark:, external People keep going on about Rooney not scoring at World Cup but there is more to his game than just goals - his work rate is second to none.

Look at these guys! Making the most of the late kick-off with some World Cup poker.

Keep your tweets coming in to #myworldcupseat...