John Southall
BBC Radio 5 live football reporter

Image source, BBC Sport

Evening from Nizhny Novgorod, and what a reaction here when that final Spanish penalty was saved. The stadium was near on empty but the roars were ringing around both inside and outside the stadium.

What a chance for one of these two sides tonight. The former have been one of the most impressive teams in the tournament and will they ever get a better chance to reach a World Cup Final?

Kick off at 19:00 BST, with commentary as ever on Five Live.

Lily, you have mastered exactly how this knockout stage works...

Image source, Reuters

Croatia defender Dejan Lovren says he thrives on "insults" as he focuses on helping his country "do something big" at the World Cup.

The 28-year-old played in each of the three wins that saw Zlatko Dalic's side finish top of Group D by five points.

"I want to prove that I am one of the best defenders in the world," he said.

"When some people insult me, it has strengthened me."

Paul Fletcher
BBC Sport in Nizhny Novgorod

I could not resist snapping these four friends from Copenhagen.

At first I thought they'd just broken out of the workhouse, but no, it is just their way of getting behind their team

They are predicting penalties tonight and, some way down the track, a 3-1 win over Belgium in the final.

You heard it here first.

Image source, BBC Sport

Roger Hobkinson:Croatia, external path to #WorldCupRussia2018, external#final, external looks excellent. #pressure, external really on #Croatia, external team. Never such an opportunity for such a talented midfield

Andy Wright: Croatia probably favourites to reach the final, but that bottom half of the draw has really opened up for #ENG, external

Image source, Getty Images

Kasper Schmeichel saved 12 of the 13 shots on target he faced in the group stages, only conceding one goal (from a penalty). He has also already kept more clean sheets for Denmark at the World Cup (2 in 3 games) than his father Peter (1 in 5 games).

Let's not remember it as that.

Paul Fletcher
BBC Sport in Nizhny Novgorod

It was quite an afternoon in Nizhny Novgorod. It was hot and packed full of expectation.

There were thousands of Russians heading down the pedestrianised Bolshaya Bokrovskaya Street heading to the Fan Fest to watch their team's match against Spain but they were all stopped firmly in their tracks by this....

As far as fans takeover goes, this is about as good as it gets.

And do you know what, the Russians did not seem to mind at all.

On the contrary, what a brilliant selfie op in what seems to me to be the selfie World Cup.

Permutations, permutations, 'it's coming home' and all that.

It's going somewhere.

Who do you make favourites now? Will we see World Cup finalists in Nizhny Novgorod this evening?

Get in touch.

Denmark's hopes surely lie on the shoulders of Tottenham maestro Christian Eriksen. He has already scored one beauty in the tournament.

Can he do it again tonight?

Image source, Getty Images

The only previous encounter between Croatia and Denmark in a major tournament was at Euro 1996. Croatia won 3-0 in the group stages thanks to goals by Davor Suker (2) and Zvonimir Boban (1).

Suker's chip. Beautiful...

Luka Modric is from a "different planet" and the best player in Croatia's history, says team-mate and fellow midfielder Ivan Rakitic.

Modric, 32, has scored twice at the World Cup, leading his side to this last-16 tie by coming through the group stage with a 100% record.

Rakitic has played alongside Spain midfielder Andres Iniesta at Barcelona.

"Both of them are among the best players ever in their positions," said the 30-year-old.

Rakitic said: "It seems like both of them are from different planets and they came to play football with us mortals here.

"It has been a great honour to play with Andres in the last four years at Barcelona, and with Luka for the last 11 years for Croatia.

"If I created a football team, I would have both of them in my team. Andres is one of my best friends and I see Luka as my big brother."

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.

Whether you support England or not, the bottom half of the World Cup draw is now so open.

They will all fancy their chances.

One of Russia, Croatia, Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland, Colombia or England will be in the final...

Sorry, skipper.

Alan Shearer
Former England captain

I don't think we can start picking and plotting our route to the final and say we only have to beat Sweden or Switzerland in the quarter-finals and we are in the last four.

With our record at major tournaments, how on earth can we be so arrogant to look ahead like that, or think we will roll anyone over?

England have won two knockout games at World Cups since 1990 - against Denmark in 2002 and Ecuador in 2006 - so, before we get carried away, let's deal with Colombia first.

Read more from Shearer here

Image source, Reuters

If you're the sort of person who loves a perumation, thrives on a prediction and is already eyeing a run to the last four, then there's a chance that one of these sides could - COULD - face England in the semi-final.

Image source, Reuters

There's nothing wrong with feeling optimistic if you support England is there?

Ah...

After Super Saturday saw us blessed with 10 goals, this afternoon was a World Cup snoozefest. For a long time.

Spain took possession football to a new level. Dominating against hosts Russia but offering next to no threat at all.

They completed over 1,000 passes but it was pedestrian stuff at times.

Russia took them all the way to a penalty shootout.

AND THEN SPAIN LOST!

Incredible. Another great moment in the World Cup. Another big opening in the bottom half of the draw...