Stephen: Englishman living in the U.S. with the time difference your text updates are a lifesaver as all the games are during the workday. The winner in stoppage time against Tunisia nearly caused a disturbance...I wonder what emotion I'll have to suppress today.

Jono: Watching from sunny Bucharest

Tom: On a night shift working in A+E in Melbourne, waiting patiently for 4am and football to come home.

Danny Murphy
Former England midfielder on BBC Radio 5 live

I think we will dominate possession tonight. I watched Colombia against Senegal and they struggled for legs, which is something we have got in abundance. If it wasn’t for Davinson Sanchez, they would have been out against Senegal, but we all know with England that we have failed in this situation before.

No previous winners left in England's side of the draw, no countries ranked higher, a young hungry team seemingly unburdened by previous failures, and a golden boot chasing striker…what could possibly go wrong?

…Well, if history is anything to go by, quite a lot. The Three Lions have infamously won just two, yes two, knockout games at a World Cup since the heady days of Italia '90 (v Denmark in 2002 and Ecuador four years later).

Aside from the glory of 1966 they have also never beaten a top-tier team in the knockout stages at a finals. Oh, and the dreaded spectre of penalties looms large. No country has lost more shoot-outs at a World Cup than the three England have (level with Italy and Spain) - they've lost a total of six out of seven at major tournaments.

Chris Waddle
Ex-England winger on BBC Radio 5 live

You have got to look at it realistically, and this is the better side of the draw. England have got to be confident and they have got to go out and play like they did in the first half against Tunisia.

A lot of people back home don't know a lot about Colombia and they'll look at Sweden and say we'll beat them as well, so the expectations are high. But within the England camp, they will know Colombia carry a real threat.

A Sting B-side there from Daniel.

BEFORE WE GO ON. If anyone spells Colombia as Columbia tonight, you are getting a straight red card.

I've seen nothing but errant Us all week. What's the matter with you all?!

Image source, Getty Images

Daniel Tinsley: I'm an Englishman living in Bogota with a Colombian wife and an office full of Colombian coworkers. Today is going to be interesting

Carl Worswick
Colombian football journalist in Moscow

In just over seven games at the Brazil and Russia World Cups, James Rodriguez has struck six goals and provided four assists. Aged 26, he's already his country's joint third all-time top scorer with 21 goals.

Colombia's hopes of advancing to the quarter-finals clearly rest heavily on getting him fit and ready. No player has ever been so influential for the South Americans at a World Cup.

But they are not a one-man team in the same way Argentina's form is tied to the genius of Lionel Messi, or even Portugal with Cristiano Ronaldo. In particular, England should be worried by the team's other attacking options.

Juan Cuadrado ran riot against Poland, because he was playing against a back three that gifted him the space to get behind Maciej Rybus. Using his pace and nimble footwork, the former Chelsea winger wreaked havoc in the penalty area.

Jermaine Jenas
Former England midfielder

I'm positive.

It's about time England won a knockout game, and we are a better team.

BBC Radio 5 live

Phil, there's no way you're not going to know the score! Just have your phone out man!

Image source, Getty Images

Danny Murphy
Former England midfielder on BBC One

Are you worried most of the England team have not played for nine days?: I think it is a bit of a worry from the start of the game as against Tunisia and Panama we saw that intensity from the start. The later stages are not a worry, just the first 15-20 minutes.

If we play with the same intensity we did against Tunisia and Panama, we will win.

Will he play or not? This tie could hinge on it.

Colombia coach Jose Pekerman said star midfielder James Rodriguez does not have a serious injury and hopes he will be fit to play tonight.

"We had good news after his medical tests. After his MRI (scan) we knew that he doesn't have a serious injury," Pekerman told reporters on Monday.

"We still have one-and-a-half days to see how he feels, and as always we hope that he will be able to play in the following games."

The 26-year-old was the leading scorer at the 2014 World Cup, with six goals, but was limited to a substitute appearance in Colombia's opening match in Russia.

Medellin or Moscow?

England fans will be hugely outnumbered this evening.

Image source, Getty Images

How are you all feeling?

England fans, nervous? Excited? Confident? Absolutely not confident?

If you're in Russia, speak up. If you can't watch tonight's game for whatever reason, let us know.

If you are very much NOT a fan of England but reading, get in touch too.

Drop us a line on twitter or on text...

IF England can beat Colombia tonight and then IF they can beat Sweden on Saturday afternoon and then IF they can beat Russia or Croatia next Wednesday then they'll be in their first World Cup final since 1966.

Easy!

Right?

Image source, Getty Images

For the England football team, perception and reality have long been divorced.

Almost from the moment Sir Alf Ramsey led the Three Lions to victory in 1966, the team has led a binary, bipolar existence.

Image source, Getty Images

After each and every win, football is coming home!

After each and every defeat, the side are an embarrassment, a disgrace.

Image source, Getty Images

The truth lies, of course, somewhere in the middle.

But there is no denying that tonight is a huge opportunity for Gareth Southgate and his side.

Beat Colombia, a side ranked four places below the Three Lions, and England will fancy their chances of their best World Cup run in a generation.

Image source, Getty Images

Lose and it will be home in disgrace once more.

Join us for that familiar trip into the unknown...