The quarter-finals get underway in Russia in what should be a thrilling day at the 2018 World Cup.
In the first match of the day, France return from their impressive last-16 victory over Argentina last week with a much stiffer challenge in front of them as they take on Uruguay Football in Nizhny Novgorod, with a place in the semi-finals up for grabs.
That match kicks off at 15:00, but attentions will quickly turn to the day’s evening kick-off as Brazil and Belgium collide in a heavyweight encounter that could prove to be one of the games of the tournament. With the two winners set to meet in the semi-finals next Tuesday in St Peterburg, the stakes couldn’t be any higher.
We’ll also be looking towards England quarter-final clash with Sweden on Saturday, so follow all of the live action from Russia below.
Live Updates
12:30
And for a little bit more on that Colombia game that proved to be quite the battle in the end, John Stones has admitted it was the dirtiest game he'd been involved with.
In the Champions League in 2017, Monaco's Radamel Falcao gave Stones the runaround when Manchester City crashed out of Europe but he and the rest of the England backline had the measure of Colombia despite the rough treatment.
"It was the dirtiest team I've ever come up against, in the respect of when we won a penalty, surrounding the referee, pushing the referee, the headbutt you've all seen, scuffing the penalty spot and a lot of off-the-ball stuff I'm sure you've not heard about."
12:24
Stop it, Gary, You tease.
12:21
From one striker to another.
As I'm sure you've heard over the past few days, Jamie Vardy didn't take England's fifth penalty because of an injury he had sustained during the course of the Colombia match (not that it mattered!)
However, that injury appears to have blighted him beyond that game.
While he took some part with the squad today, he is a strong doubt for tomorrow's game against Sweden.
12:17
Anyway, back to the World Cup and as Miguel alluded to in his article, one of the perks about this Sweden side is the lack of ego.
Namely, the omission of Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
This is not to say that the LA Galaxy striker would not benefit their side, but, there is certainly an evident team spirit that has been created without their all-time top goalscorer.
He is still full of support for the team, though, and has been predicting the result of their clash against England here:
12:13
Away from England for just a quick second but the Premier League has announced that the first game of the season, between Manchester United and Leicester City has now been moved to Friday 10th August.
By the time the World Cup is finished, there will be less than a month until the new Premier League season gets underway.
IT WILL NEVER CEASE.
12:05
And it's not just Lawrence who thinks England must show caution ahead of their quarter final against the Scandinavians.
Miguel Delaney has looked in depth into this revolutionary Sweden side, much changed from their years of disappointment.
Sweden’s improvement is actually someway like England’s under Gareth Southgate, in that the management staff have taken a very realistic view of the squad’s limitations and built from there...
11:52
Southgate is going to have to come up with a masterplan to help England naviagte their way past a stubborn and slightly puzzling Sweden side which Lawrence Ostlere perfectly illustrates here:
How do you mark a collective spirit? How do you tackle teamwork? How do you dribble through iron will?
11:42
This hashtag is getting a fair bit of use at the moment!
Share the best ones you've seen with us.
11:31
And Jesse Lingard has been spotted doing weird things in training, too.
Is this a United thing?
Regardless, it's great to see the spirit among the Three Lions squad ahead of their quarter final clash against Sweden tomorrow.
11:29
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Meanwhile, Ashley Young, training with the England squad this morning is offering a karate kick in the direction of penalty hero Eric Dier.
But, is he taking lessons from a certain Eric who also played for his club team, Manchester United? Hmmm.
11:11
One of the bigger names taking the stage this evening will be Brazil's Neymar who made the headlines in their last 16 clash with Mexico because of his playacting despite scoring and assisting the other in Brazil's 2-0 victory.
And the PSG star will be looking to make the headlines again, but only for positive reason this time.
Our guest writer Frank De Boer discusses Brazil's no.10 and the pressures that come with being the most expensive player of all time.
Players don’t mind if one individual has his own style, like Neymar does, but he has to deliver.
11:04
And Belgium boss Roberto Martinez thinks it's the game of the tournament so far...
We've had Spain 3-3 Portugal & France 4-3 Argentina.
If this proves to be the game of the tournament I think we'll all be in football utopia.
10:57
Moving on to this evening's quarter final and there's a mouth-watering prospect as tournament favourites Brazil take on the golden generation of Belgium.
It is a match-up rife with star quality, an abundance of players who play in the upper echelons of league football and strength in depth.
The South Americans actually pose the meanest defence in the tournament thus far while Belgium have scored the most goals.
Something has to give.
If Brazil and Belgium live their best lives for 90 or 120 minutes, we could be about to witness a genuine World Cup classic.
Jonathan Liew whets the appetite a bit more, here:
10:24
Is there a team that you can think of that any more than Uruguay that exemplifies the phrase:
"Each game is a cup final."
If you can think of one, tell me.
10:16
Okay, one more on the France game this afternoon but it concerns their coach, and somewhat enigma: Didier Deschamps.
Les Bleus' manager, despite guiding his side to the European Championship's final and now the quarter-final of the World Cup, is still much disliked over the channel.
Tim Rice has more on the subject:
10:05
And yet, despite knowing all this about the Uruguayan mean defence, it's hard not to see Kylian Mbappe causing some kind of serious danger.
He's got blistering pace, fabulously quick feet and, and a youthful pomp and arrogance.
I'm sure Godin and co. will be doing their all to disrupt his and France's rhythm but if they give him even a sniff of goal, expect the net to ripple.
The Independent's chief football writer Miguel Delaney revels in the star prodigy's potential here:
09:53
France blew Argentina out of the water in their last 16 clash with Kylian Mbappe stealing all of the headlines for his incredible display, netting twice and assisting once in the 4-2 victory.
But, as usual, their South American counterparts for today's quarter final continue to go about their business slightly under the radar.
Uruguay hadn't conceded a goal before they faced Portugal in the last round and apart from the blip with Pepe's header, it was another resolute, dogged and yet somewhat comfortable victory for La Celeste.
Our very own Miguel Delaney looked deeper into what it is about this Uruguay team that makes them so solid:
09:41
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Blimey! That came around fast, didn't it?
We're at the latter stages of the World Cup now, with the quarter-finals getting underway later this afternoon starting with Uruguay v France.
Tomorrow is when we'll get to see England at this stage of the tournament for the first time since 2006, when they were defeated by Portugal.
Excited? I think so.
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