Mind you, the Uruguay anthem hits some pretty decent decibel levels. Enough to shut the power off at a small pub.

Image source, Getty Images

Let's do this...

B19 UMR: , externalNetherlands & Germany by far the favourites (if any) for a European team to win this World Cup. No other team stands a chance.

Diego the Alter Ego: , externalUruguay mourning the loss of Suarez could be their great undoing tonight or it could galvanise them greatly. Interesting either way

It sounds like there are more Colombia fans inside the Maracana, with their anthem 'Oh Gloria Inmarcesible' getting a rousing reception.

Apparently it can be heard on national radio every day at 6am and 6pm - just before the Two Minutes Hate I presume...

Very Orwellian.

BBC Sport Chief Football Writer Phil McNulty
At the Maracana

"What are the odds on some Suarez-based goal celebration should Uruguay score against Colombia here in the Maracana tonight?"

Opposing captains Diego Godin and Mario Yepes share a warm embrace as the teams line-up in the tunnel, much to the annoyance of a chippy Fifa official who breaks them up with a 'hey, we have to go!'.

And they do. here's that familiar music again. Der duh-de-duh der...

Penalties again Chris? You've got them on the brain...

Former England international Chris Waddle
BBC Radio 5 live

"I do fancy Colombia but it's got nothing to do with Luis Suarez's absence. I wouldn't write Uruguay off, they're quite experienced and it's not going to be easy for Colombia. I think it could be a long night."

Image source, Epa

Listen to BBC Radio 5 live commentary by clicking the 'Live Coverage' tab above.

BBC Radio 5 live

Image source, Getty Images

South American football expert Tim Vickery: "Faryd Mondragon became the oldest player in the history of the World Cup in Colombia's final group game against Japan, but his hard work has been since that moment, because he is the link between all the successes and failures of Colombia over the last 20 years.

"He was part of that Colombia side which went on a run of something like 40 games during which they lost one just one game. They topped qualifying for the 1994 World Cup but then failed to carry it on into the finals. Mondragon's task over the last few days has been to sit the younger guys down and say 'we qualified in style, Uruguay snuck in and are without their key striker in Luis Suarez. However, it all starts over again now.'

"It is a lovely tie they have there with Mondragon. He was in that Carlos Valderrama era Colombia and he is here now."

Colombia's 4-1 win over Japan in the final group game was so comfortable that they were able to bring on goalkeeper Faryd Mondragon to became the oldest player in World Cup history.

Mondragon - who played against England in 1998 - celebrated his 43rd birthday three days before the match and came on for David Ospina after 86 minutes with his side 3-1 up.

It was his first competitive appearance for his country since 2005.

Cameroon's Roger Milla was the previous oldest player at a World Cup, appearing at the 1994 tournament aged 42.

A touch cloudy in places but very warm in Rio this evening. Lovely conditions for a game of football.

For Uruguay, qualification went right down to the wire.

After a disastrous opening defeat to Costa Rica, Luis Suarez returned from injury to score twice and sink England in Sao Paulo.

After his biting incident, Uruguay then beat Italy with a late header from centre-half Diego Godin as they joined Costa Rica in the final 16.

Image source, Reuters

Seeds Colombia bossed Group C, winning all three games and scoring nine goals in the process, with Monaco man James Rodriguez arguably the star of the show.

James has scored in all three games and has certainly lived up to his nickname 'El Nuevo Pibe' - The New Kid.

He could make the difference this evening...

Image source, Getty Images

Colombia's coach Jose Pekerman was manager of Argentina in 2006, when they looked brilliant in the opening stages before being ground down to a penalty shootout defeat by hosts Germany.

Hw was persuaded back into international management by his daughter Vanessa, who was born in Colombia. Her nation could be very thankful if he continues to lead the side with panache and flair.

Interestingly, Pekerman says that his grandfather once told him the family are related to Hollywood great Gregory Peck. A brilliantly tall tale...

Benji: , externalI feel drunk on football.

BBC Sport Chief Football Writer Phil McNulty
At the Maracana

"Thunderous atmosphere building here inside the Maracana - and it seems the siege mentality fostered by Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez in the wake of Luis Suarez's ban has been picked up by their fans. There are Suarez masks, flags and his name is being chanted loudly and consistently. Liverpool's striker may not be here in person but he is here in spirit.

"All this slightly overlooks, of course, the fact that he was guilty of a very obvious bite on Italy's Giorgio Chiellini."

Uruguay: Muslera, Maxi Pereira, Gimenez, Godin, Caceres, Pereira, Gonzalez, Arevalo Rios, Rodriguez, Cavani, Forlan. Subs: Munoz, Fucile, Gargano, Hernandez, Stuani, Lodeiro, Perez, Ramirez, Coates, Silva.

Colombia: Ospina, Zuniga, Zapata, Yepes, Armero, Aguilar, Sanchez Moreno, Cuadrado, Rodriguez, Martinez, Gutierrez. Subs: Vargas, Arias, Carbonero, Guarin, Ibarbo, Mejia, Balanta, Bacca, Ramos, Quintero, Valdes, Mondragon.

Image source, Getty Images

One thing is for sure - Colombia goalkeeper David Ospina will not be dribbling the ball out past his defence today...

Rene Higuita was a maverick, as famous for his 'scorpion' saves as his dreadlocks and dribbling skills.

When he finally retired back in 2010, our South American football expert Tim Vickery said: "Higuita was a pioneer when it came to his skill with the ball at his feet and in his willingness to take responsibility for situations 40 metres from goal.

"Before the change in the backpass rule obliged keepers to develop these abilities, he was already showing that a team is made up of 11 footballers, not of 10 players and a goalkeeper."