The Croatia fans vastly outnumber the Danes - this could be a special night for both sets of supporters. Stirring stuff with 'Our Beautiful Homeland' there.

Everyone's got the prettiest nation at home.

Here they come!

Paul Fletcher
BBC Sport in Nizhny Novgorod

Definitely difficult to get a chant off the ground when you're up against a sound system currently wiping years off my long-term hearing.

This really is a wonderful, atmospheric stadium here in Nizhny Novgorod, close to the vast Volga river, the city's kremlin on the other side of the water.

The back rows of the stands sweep up and down giving a pleasing curved effect. It is just wonderful on a hot, sticky night like this. Quite how cosy it is during the depths of a Russian winter, I'm not so sure.

Croatia are back to their strongest team after resting a number of players against Iceland.

Luka Modric of Real Madrid skippers the side alongside Barcelona's Ivan Rakitic in the middle of the park, while Liverpool's Dean Lovren is in central defence.

Juventus striker Mario Mandzukic leads the line.

Croatia XI: Subasic, Vrsaljko, Lovren, Vida, Strinic, Brozovic, Rakitic, Rebic, Perisic, Modric, Mandzukic.

There are seven English-based players in the Denmark starting XI.

Tottenham's Christian Eriksen is the key man in the middle of the park where all of the Dane's play will be going through.

Leicester's Kasper Schmeichel is in goal, Jonas Knudsen and Henrik Dalsgaard of Championship sides Ipswich and Brentford respectively, form part of the defence alongside Huddersfield centre-back Mathias Jorgensen, and Chelsea's Andreas Christensen plays in the anchor role.

Denmark XI: Schmeichel, Dalsgaard, Kjaer, Jorgensen, Knudsen, Christensen, Braithwaite, Eriksen, Delaney, Poulsen, Cornelius.

Here come the sides then! Both teams in their away kits, the stadium is a long way from full. Russians still partying?

Terry Butcher
Ex-England captain on BBC Radio 5 live

I saw Croatia play in their first game and the width they have from their full-backs was brilliant. That midfield three are exceptional and Modric has been the player of the tournament. I think they are favourites in this side of the draw to make the final.

I'm just looking for a new Denmark...

The Danes have got this far based on a stout defence, having only conceding once.

But coach Age Hareide is promising more tonight.

"I think you will see a different Denmark from what you have seen so far and the type of game we have played," Hareide said at a press conference. "Yes, we need to defend but we need to attack more."

Image source, Getty Images

Croatia memorably came third in their debut World Cup in 1998, with that man Davor Suker taking the golden boot, but since then they had not got out of the group stage before this year.

Denmark's best run was also in 98, when they reached the quarter-finals.

Terry Butcher
Ex-England captain on BBC Radio 5 live

I think Denmark are a Championship side, with Eriksen. But Championship sides are dogged and defend well.

Pat Nevin
Former Chelsea winger on BBC Radio 5 live

I don't know who is the better player between Modric and Eriksen. You watch Eriksen play and you think he could create a pass that could tear any team apart. Because of him, Denmark have more of a threat from open play and set pieces than Russia did earlier.

Yep, if you're just tuning in after a nice Sunday out in the sun somewhere, your decision to swerve the early gaem was largely sound, except for the fact that the hosts eventually served up one of the tournament's great upsets.

Read Chris Bevan's report from Moscow here.

I've just realised that Croatia are wearing their away kit. Sad to see...

Roger: Croatia's path to the final looks excellent. The pressure is really on Croatia and they have never had such an opportunity for such a talented midfield

The players are coming off the pitch ready for one more team-talk from the managers.

This is a massive opportunity now for both sides to make serious ground in this World Cup.

10 v 10, Modric v Eriksen. Spurs past v Spurs present.

Should be ace!

BBC Radio 5 live

You can listen to all of the build-up ahead of tonight's match on BBC Radio 5 live now.

IF, if, IF, if, IF England beat Colombia on Tuesday night then the levels of hysteria may well reach new levels in the country.

It's already starting in Tom and Aaron's worlds...

Tom: I think England have to take every game as it comes, and arguably Croatia are the toughest team left in our half, but this tournament is wide open and anything can happen, but as an England fan you have to start feeling that little bit of “this could be our year."

Aaron: England are the youngest and paciest team in their half of the draw. Do you think Russia could have held out if they had Alli, Lingard and Sterling running at them for 90 minutes, with Kane lurking? No team left can, I think. Let's believe.

Image source, Reuters

Did you know Denmark boss Age Hareide used to be Martin O'Neill's tenant?

I mean why would you.

The former defender spent most of his playing career at Molde, but also had spells at Manchester City and Norwich. He was friends with Republic of Ireland boss O’Neill – the man he outwitted in November’s World Cup play-off – at both clubs, and rented a house from him whilst at Norwich.

Get a big move, get married.

Ivan Rakitic is an efficient man on and off the pitch. Did you know that the former Basel, Schalke and Sevilla married the first woman in Seville to serve him coffee?

He met Raquel in the club hotel the night before his medical but it took three months before she agreed to go out with him.