Image source, Opta

No doubting Luis Suarez is Uruguay's dangerman but the Liverpool forward hasn't yet managed a touch inside the Italian box. You can bet it will be worth watching when he does, mind.

Image source, Reuters

Mario Balotelli is the first player to go into the referee's notebook after a high challenge on Alvaro Pereira. That means the former Manchester City striker will be suspended if Italy make it through to the last 16.

Those pre-match handshakes were clearly just for show. There's no love lost between these two. There's been 12 free-kicks in the opening 20 minutes and the foul count is rising by the minute.

Miracle Roch:, external How did Cavani score all those goals for Napoli? Looks so average.

Dazzler:, external The knockout stages of the World Cup will be missing either Andrea Pirlo or Luis Suarez. Very sad indeed.

Fifteen minutes gone in Natal and this is how Group D looks. Uruguay have got stuck in but they need a goal to stay alive. Cristian Rodriguez goes on a powerful surge and whips in a cross but Edinson Cavani can't take advantage.

Another Italian free-kick and Andrea Pirlo's set-piece forces keeper Fernando Muslera to beat the ball over. First serious chance to Italy.

Ben Smith at Estadio das Dunas, Natal
BBC Sport

"Fair to say this game hasn't really hit its stride yet. Luis Suarez and Mario Balotelli have spent most of the first 10 minutes on the floor and the referee's whistle has been blown more times than I care to remember. It is fast and ferocious on both sides, though."

Kevin Kilbane
Former Republic of Ireland midfielder

"There's no real pace in the Italian back three and Luis Suarez will cause a lot of problems if he gets running at them."

Little action in either penalty area but plenty of free kicks already.

Mexican referee Marco Rodriguez is certainly going to earn his money in this game.

Luis Suarez is on the receiving end of a heavy Italian challenge before committing a foul himself. The biggest surprise so far is that Rodriguez has not booked anyone.

Image source, Getty Images

The Typewriter:, external Italy will be playing a 3-5-2 formation for the first time this tournament. Juventus-style system. It makes sense for Italy, seeing that much of that side plays for Juventus.

Kevin Kilbane
Former Republic of Ireland midfielder

"You have to fancy Italy to get through this but in Luis Suarez Uruguay have a world class player and you can't rule them out."

Crunch. Mario Balotelli crashes to the ground under a challenge by Christian Rodriguez.

Then Edinson Cavani is caught and goes down. This is blood and thunder stuff already.

Image source, Reuters

We're under way. It's do or die time.

Conor McNamara
BBC commentator in Natal

"Plenty of noise from the Italy fans here in Natal, but they are massively outnumbered by the Uruguay supporters. Great atmosphere."

What a noise in Natal.

Plenty of handshakes in the tunnel between both sets of players. Not sure there will be too many on the pitch. Italy's national anthem first and their players are not holding back. Spine-tingling stuff. The completion of Uruguay's anthem and then handshakes on the pitch.

The pleasantries are out of the way. Now comes the serious stuff. Are you ready?

Italy: Buffon, Chiellini, Bonucci, Barzagli, De Sciglio, Marchisio, Pirlo, Verratti, Darmian, Immobile, Balotelli. Subs: Sirigu, Thiago Motta, Candreva, Abate, Cassano, Cerci, Aquilani, Parolo, Paletta, Insigne, De Rossi, Perin.

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

Referee: Marco Rodriguez (Mexico).

John McEnerney:, external Kidding ourselves thinking Uruguay will win. History says Italy. They got their hiccup out of the way versus Costa Rica. Head says Italy, heart says Uruguay.

Jyoti Banerjee:, external I wonder how Italy and Uruguay feel about Costa Rica playing England's reserves.

Kerry Peter Parvin:, external Ready for the Italy v Uruguay game. Going for Italy on this one due to the other half. Come on Italy.

There's another game going on in Group D at the same time as this one. Will England save their best for last and finish a poor World Cup with victory over Costa Rica? Build-up and live text commentary of that game is also on the BBC Sport website.