Hornet Shane: The last time I was excited by England was probably in Euro 2004... a great squad but the same old problems.

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BBC Radio 5 live

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The BBC commentary team is ready at Wembley - Ian Dennis, Phil Neville and John Murray are behind the microphone.

BBC Sport NI's Richard Petrie at Windsor Park: "Northern Ireland supporters have come to expect the goals to flow relatively freely in recent years but the last three competitive games between these countries have failed to produce a single goal.

"Goal-less draws in Belfast and Prague in qualification for the 2010 World Cup were followed by another failure to find the net in the opening match of this campaign 12 months ago.

"The only man to ever score a goal for Northern Ireland against the Czech Republic? That was Philip Mulryne in a 3-1 World Cup qualifying defeat in June 2001.

"Mulryne is following a different path these days as he has entered the priesthood."

BBC Radio 4

Former England full-back Graeme Le Saux: "England came up against a stubborn Malta side and did not play particularly well but they did do a professional job. Working together did that, not half the players, who journalists suggested, were not interested in wearing the shirt.

"Under Gareth Southgate, the identity of the team is going to be be built around all the players giving everything to each other and understanding what the plan is. Games that you play against Malta are not enjoyable because they play with a bank of four and five and you have to break them down. We did not take our chances early on in the match which made is frustrating."

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"It suits England to be at Wembley. It is a big pitch and Slovakia are two points behind with three games left. If they are ambitious, if they fancy their chances of breaking England down, they have to try and win the game. That will play into England's hands. It will be a more enjoyable game than against Malta."

Ian Dennis
Senior football reporter at Wembley for 5 live

A couple of familiar names in the Slovakia XI from their time in England with Martin Skrtel and Vladimir Weiss, Marek Hamsik is a natural threat but also look out for Stanislav Lobotka.

I saw the 22-year-old midfielder in the summer at the U21 European Championships in Poland.

He sits deep and likes to orchestrate the midfield with his range of passing but he's not afraid to carry the ball forward.

He's one of five players promoted to the senior squad since the summer.

Northern Ireland captain Steven Davis told BBC Sport: "It’s a great opportunity. It’ll be a massive night and a special game hopefully. We can lean on the experience from the last campaign. It’ll be like Hungary or Greece in the Euro 2016 qualifiers.

"I don’t think you can go into a game with the mentality of trying to draw. We’re going out there to try to win.

"We’d have bitten your hand off for this position. There was a fear the levels might have dropped off after the Euros but it’s left us wanting more and we want to achieve something special again. We’re on the cusp."

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Four of the eight goals England have conceded under Gareth Southgate have been scored in the 87th minute or later.

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Northern Ireland are now on the longest winning streak in their history.

Friday's 3-0 win over San Marino saw them break their old landmark. Win again tonight and they can extend that record.

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Steve Bland: Felt excited by England before the Brazil WC. Sturridge, Sterling were on form, Gerrard still had it. It was looking promising!

Matt: England excited me when Eric Dier scored a last minute winner in Berlin after we had been 2-0 down. Was sure we'd win Euro 2016

Alistair Bruce-Ball
BBC Radio 5 live at Windsor Park

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The Northern Ireland success story under Michael O'Neill is the epitome of a team effort, a group of players united by a common cause, knitted together brilliantly by the manager and supported wholeheartedly by their brilliant fans but it's interesting to see O'Neill give two players a particular mention in his programme notes this evening....

"In Steven Davis and Jonny Evans we have two fine leaders who provide the backbone of our squad, not only on the pitch but off it. They have provided the rock around which others such as Conor Washington and Conor McLaughlin have flourished and developed."

Both Northern Ireland and the Czech Republic make one change.

NI boss Michael O'Neill had already suggested defensive midfielder Corry Evans would come in from the San Marino win, and Kyle Lafferty loses out.

The Czechs had made six changes for their game with Germany, with the belief being they were resting players for tonight, a more winnable game. But they only make one tweak - Ladislav Krejci taking Jan Kopic's place. Vladimir Darida has scored three goals in his last three World Cup qualifiers.

Northern Ireland: McGovern, McLaughlin, Hughes, J Evans, Brunt, Magennis, Davis, C Evans, Norwood, Dallas, Washington.

Czech Republic: Vaclik, Kalas, Gebre Selassie, Darida, Krmencik, Jankto, Soucek, Suchy, Boril, Krejci, Novak.

Belgium became the first European side to join hosts Russia at next summer's World Cup finals as goals from Jan Vertonghen and Romelu Lukaku gave them victory in Greece last night.

So who are the teams already guaranteed a place?

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Iran

Belgium

Japan

Russia

Mexico

Brazil

Just 26 to go then...

Northern Ireland boss Michael O'Neill told BBC Sport: "We’ll try to win the game. We have to make sure we’re not too gung-ho. We’ll manage the game well. We’ve won games late when we’ve had to, we’ve stayed in games when we’ve had to.

"The experience of being in France [at Euro 2016] helps us. I have no fears in terms of the players’ mentality. We’re in touching place of second place and a play-off but we’d still have to negotiate a play-off.

"If it doesn’t happen for us, we still have other opportunities."

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France coach Didier Deschamps was left "infuriated" by his side's failures in front of goal in their goalless draw with Luxembourg last night, a result labelled "historic" by his opposite number.

The home side had 76% possession, 34 shots and hit the woodwork twice as France failed to win against Luxembourg for the first time since 1914.

"It is infuriating to have so many chances and not score," said Deschamps.

His counterpart Luc Holtz said: "It's a day of glory for Luxembourg football."

BBC Sport NI's Richard Petrie at Windsor Park: There is an air of expectancy around Windsor Park as Northern Ireland fans begin to file into the ground in the hope of seeing their side secure second in Group C, a shot at the play-offs in November and the chance to reach next summer's World Cup finals in Russia.

Bedecked around the entrances and concourses around Windsor Park are reminders of past glory nights in this little corner of Belfast, but this squad are hoping to create their own piece of history by ensuring that Northern Ireland compete in successive major tournaments for the first time.

Many of the current squad were not even born the last time the men in green graced the biggest stage of all back in 1986.

Against a Czech squad in transition and devoid of players of the quality of former stars like Petr Cech, Pavel Nedved ,Tomas Rosicky and Jan Koller, there is a mood of optimism that Michael O'Neill's men can take at least the point they need to clinch that runners-up spot.

Northern Ireland make one change from the side who beat San Marino 3-0. Corry Evans replaces Kyle Lafferty as Michael O'Neill shores things up a bit against tougher opposition.

Line-ups to follow.

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Slovakia have failed to score in each of their last three meetings with England (D1 L2). They last scored against England in a Euro 2004 Qualifier defeat in June 2003 (2-1).

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer at Wembley

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No surprise at all that Marcus Rashford replaces Raheem Sterling in England's line-up to face Slovakia - the Manchester City forward endured a harrowing 45 minutes before being replaced in Malta. Rashford, in contrast, was a real livewire.

Eric Dier, available after suspension, is another obvious choice to come in for Jake Livermore.

So, England's line-up is predictable - let's hope their performance is not as predictable as it was in Valetta on Friday.

Stephen Craigan
Former NI defender on BBC Radio 5 live

We've had an unbelievable campaign, the only defeat was away in Germany. We're in a really strong position. The Czechs aren't as good as they were in the past. They don't have a load of household names.

The mentality of the Northern Ireland players is so strong, the fans' energy will drive them forward. I can see them getting at least a point. Michael O'Neill will go for the win, we don't need to go gung-ho and try to win it in the first five minutes. There's a lot of continuity in the squad. There's lots of experience.