Image source, PA

This must be the bit all players hate as they are introduced to the dignitaries on the pitch. The obligatory handshakes are completed before a children's choir lead the crowd in a chorus of the national anthem. Too many foreign players in both teams for a strong effort by the players - but Harry Kane gives it a blast.

BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

BBC Radio 5 live sports extra has full match coverage of the League Cup final between Chelsea and Tottenham, a 16:00 GMT kick-off at Wembley this afternoon. You can also listen to the second half on BBC Radio 5 live.

And later this evening you can have your say on all the big football stories on 606 with Ian Wright and Kelly Cates from 18:06 on BBC Radio 5 live.

Former Tottenham midfielder Jermaine Jenas
BBC Radio 5 live at Wembley

"We've got a a full Wembley stadium, they've put on a great show for us and a lot of teams will be watching on thinking: 'I wish I was there.' I'm delighted Nacer Chadli is starting for Tottenham. He has really kicked on from last year. Andros Townsend knows this pitch well, and because of the size of it teams can struggle to get close to him."

Managers Jose Mourinho and Mauricio Pochettino engage in a warm embrace in the tunnel before the teams walk out onto the field. Flags are waved, scarves are held as the sides are greeted by a fantastic atmosphere. Not long now.

Today we're asking for your League Cup final memories. Be it a favourite goal, a result or a more personal memory.

Tony Boxford: Best League Cup final memory was Ashley Grimes crossing for Brian Stein to score a late winner for Luton against Arsenal on a sunny day in 1988.

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Only one of the last 11 League Cup finals has seen fewer than three goals scored. That was Manchester United's penalty shootout win against Spurs in the 2009 final.

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

"In an attempt to provide something even more surreal than a Champions League Final pre-match ceremony, today's sponsors have attached a female gymnast to a large balloon while holding the famous old League Cup Trophy. Fine effort - but still not a patch on the Champions League Final nonsense."

Show us your trophies then. On second thoughts…

Mauricio Pochettino is still searching for his first bit of silverware as a manager but, after impressive spells at Espanyol and Southampton, you get the feeling the Spurs boss has plenty of good times to come.

Jose Mourinho on the other hand would need a van to transport his trophy collection. You name it and Jose has won it - probably more than once - including two past League Cup triumphs.

Hat-trick time?

The pre-match build-up is cranking up as a girl, dressed as a ballerina, is tied to a giant football and launched in the air. It is a little bit like the children's film 'Up' as she floats through the sky. Not sure of the relevance but impressive stuff all the same.

A look at this season's statistics offers Spurs an insight into how best to beat Chelsea. The longer they are in contention, the greater their chance of victory.

Tottenham have scored more late goals than any other Premier League team this season...

...while Chelsea have been the league's most vulnerable side in the closing 10 minutes of matches.

Former England defender Danny Mills
Football Focus

"Jose Mourinho's TV interviews after last Saturday's 1-1 draw against Burnley are what we've come to expect. He does it every time and we buy it every time. Who are the fools? It's ridiculous. Every time there's a bad result, we never talk about that. It's always about what Mourinho said, who's been sent off, what quote has he come out with. He's the master of deflection. We buy it every single time."

BBC Radio 5 live

Former Crystal Palace boss Neil Warnock on how Chelsea will approach the Capital One Cup final:

"Jose will want to get that first bit of glory since he came back to Chelsea. He'll have learned a lot from that trouncing from Spurs and they'll be a lot harder to beat. They will have a game plan to stifle them and will come out on top.

"That defeat by Spurs (5-3 on New Year's Day) will work to Chelsea's advantage. Just like the Bradford City FA Cup game (4-2 loss at Stamford Bridge), they took it too much for granted and couldn't change gear, and I can't see that again."

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

Image source, Reuters

"Both sides out warming up at a sunlit Wembley and pitch conditions look absolutely perfect. Jose Mourinho is looking to claim his first trophy since returning to Chelsea at the start of last season while Spurs will not only look to repeat their 5-3 Premier League win over today's opponents on New Year's Day but also the victory in this same final against Chelsea in 2008.

"Mauricio Pochettino's team had to fly back from Italy late on Thursday after the Europa League exit against Fiorentina - but Liverpool's win against Manchester City today after an even later return from European action suggests this need not be a huge handicap."

Coco, London: Six English players all aged 24 or younger in the Tottenham starting XI today. Same six lads that beat Arsenal. Whatever happens tonight I'm still optimistic about the future!

Henry, Bristol: Jan Vertonghen has been back to his best. He's a real Rolls Royce defender, he'll need to use every gear in his gearbox to stop Diego Costa today!

Homage to Basil Brush there Henry?

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This could all have been very different.

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho says he turned down an approach to join Tottenham after leaving the Blues for the first time in September 2007.

But Mourinho, whose team play Spurs in Sunday's League Cup final, had an exit clause that prevented him from coaching in England for two years.

"I couldn't go," he said. "I could not train in England for two years." Asked if he would have considered Spurs, Mourinho added: "No, because I love Chelsea supporters too much."

Jose Mourinho is a cool customer. He appears to be whistling to himself as he watches his Chelsea side being put through their paces. Will he be so cool come kick-off though?

Talking about Mourinho...

Tottenham fans, look away now.

The north London club's record against their Stamford Bridge opponents makes dismal reading.

Spurs once endured a run of 26 games without beating Chelsea until they finally defeated the Blues 5-1 in a League Cup tie in 2002. The run of losses had stretched back 22 years.

Shaun Farrelly: RE the Chelsea team: I wouldn't be surprised if it's Kurt Zouma playing the Nemanja Matic role and Gary Cahill in defence.

Could be Shaun. Zouma definitely looks like he's got a bit of versatility, and Jose Mourinho does love a good surprise...

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Image source, Getty Images

Not for the first time this season, Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino rings the changes following a midweek European jaunt.

Six faces return after sitting out of the defeat at Fiorentina - but the most eye-catching team news is the inclusion of influential goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.

The Frenchman plays his first match of the League Cup campaign, as Michel Vorm must be content with a place on the Wembley bench.

Defensive trio Kyle Walker, Eric Dier and Danny Rose all return, alongside midfielders Ryan Mason and Andros Townsend, and top scorer Harry Kane.

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

"Plenty of raised eyebrows after Jose Mourinho's Chelsea team selection - not so much the decision to select Petr Cech ahead of Thibaut Courtois in goal but the fact that the trio of John Terry, Gary Cahill and Kurt Zouma are all included. Interesting to see how Mourinho deploys them."