1250 Steven Gerrard is among the players who walk out on to the pitch at the stadium in Frankfurt to warm up.

1244: England's footballer's wives arrive at the stadium by coach from their hotel.

1240: Prince William has arrived at the stadium and is waiting to meet the players before the match. The fans have paid a lot of money to be here but the fact that it's in Germany means that they have not had to pay as much as last time when the tournament was in Japan and South Korea. You wouldn't think any other countries are here as the red and white of England dominates everywhere. The Paraguay players will probably be intimidated by the vast numbers of support in the stadium and around Frankfurt.
BBC News 24 reporter James Pearce.

1237: I'm still hopeful of getting a ticket, but I don't want to pay 500 euros so I might just watch the game down by the river. Everyone's having a good time and there's no dodgy songs being sung. There's good food, good beer and a good atmosphere. I haven't seen any police and it's all been good-natured.
England fan Neil Roe in Frankfurt.

1235: There's no World Cup party for me to go to because I'm at work. If Crouch scores I might do the robot dance because there's nobody here to see me!
Security guard texting in to Five Live Sport.

1230: We want lots of people to come down as Leeds is a real sporting city with friendly people and the atmosphere is great. There is lots of water here for the fans as the weather is very hot.
BBC News 24 reporter Louise Minchin in Leeds speaking to Catherine Blanchard of Leeds Council.

1225: There's no pies with your chips around here in Frankfurt. It's Bratwurst and chips that the England fans are tucking into as they prepare for the match. The England fans outmumber the other nations and it's predicted that 40,000 England supporters will be in Frankfurt. Twenty thousand of those will be in the stadium while the rest will be on the streets and by the river watching on TV screens. Everywhere is red and white.
BBC News 24 reporter Matthew Price.

1220: I'll be extremely nervous - like every other England fan. I'd like to jump up and down but in my job you have to show a bit of decorum. I'm expecting them to do well but there are no easy games in World Cup football.
FA Chairman Geoff Thompson on Five Live Sport.

1215: It's very, very hot today and there's no doubt that will favour Paraguay more than England.
Former England manager Graham Taylor on Five Live Sport.

1210: Despite all their experience, there will be nerves on the England team coach as it makes its way to the stadium. The tension will be building with every mile to the ground. They will see all these fans and it will really hit home to them what they are involved in. This is the first day of their World Cup campaign and they will be desperate to make a good start. They will all be hoping to get in the game, get a first touch that is a good one and hopefully push on from there. They will be excited, but as professionals the feeling you get is one of almost going into a trance as you see the situation you are entering into.
Former England captain Terry Butcher in Frankfurt.

1200: Some of the England fans gathered in Leeds are throwing their support behind local boy Aaron Lennon predicting he will come off the bench and score. The younger supporters are imitating Peter Crouch's robotic dance as the crowds start to gather in the city centre.
Louise Minchin, BBC News 24.

1155: I am very, very excited. It's nice weather, everyone around here is calm and relaxed. I'm excited - 11 out of 10, confident - eight out of 10 and nervous - five out of 10. I think from Paul Robinson in goal to Peter Crouch up front we have the quality to do really well. The players are great, the team is brilliant and I think other teams will be scared of Steven Gerrard.
BBC Radio One presenter Chris Moyles outside the stadium.

1150: The main newspaper in Paraguay leads its coverage with Crouch, saying "England are not just about Peter Crouch". I spoke to the Paraguay coach recently and they are especially worried by the Liverpool striker.
BBC Sport Online columnist Tim Vickery speaking on Five Live Sport.

1145: The expectation is growing inside and outside of the stadium. Helicopters are circling overhead as suppporters of both sides congregate in the open spaces and alongside stalls. The early atmosphere of calm has long since disappeared as the countdown to kick-off continues. Inside, the media centre has suddenly filled with hundreds of reporters and photographers from all over the world and the final touches are being applied inside the spectacular state-of-the art stadium, complete with giant screen hanging from a retractable roof. No chance of the roof being on today - unless it is a guard against sunstroke.
Phil McNulty, BBC Sport in Frankfurt.

1140: They are asking 600 euros for two �28 tickets. That's way too much and you're not even sure they are genuine tickets. There's a good chance they may be dud and it's not worth taking the risk.
England fan Lawrence Duignan in Frankfurt.

1137: Bars in downtown Frankfurt opened around 10am local time 0900 BST and the England fans were quick to fill them, chanting and singing songs during the buildup to their team's opening match.

1135: All the seats in front of the big screen by the river, where the game is being shown, are already taken. We even have some formation dancing by some lovely ladies in red leotards. Great fun!
Matt Williams, Five Live Sport in Frankfurt.

1125: The atmosphere is building here and England fans have lined the banks of the river in preparation for the game to be screened on the TV in the middle of the Main River. The official England supporters group have sent text messages out to people wanting tickets saying that there are none to buy at the stadium. German police say that 20-25 people were arrested last night. One of them was English but he was later released. But the atmosphere on the whole is joyful and fun and full of excitement.
BBC News reporter Matthew Price in Frankfurt.

1115: I've not had the best few weeks. It's been very disappointing. I've started to walk gingerly around the house using crutches but I'm probably going to be out for a few months. I think the boys will win against Paraguay. There's so many quality players in the England team but I think they need to score first to bring Paraguay out of their shells. I'm sure the South Americans will be happy if it's a drab affair and they come away with a point.
England goalkeeper Robert Green, who ruptured his groin during the B international with Belarus.

1110: The stadium is so big and there will be so many people watching us, we will be so nervous when we get on the pitch. We can't wait to see David Beckham. All our friends back home are jealous of us and this will be the best day of our lives. We will be confident carrying the flag and we're confident that England will win.
The three youngsters who will carry the England flag onto the pitch talk to BBC News 24's James Pearce.

1105: It's all red and white in Frankfurt. There's St George's flags everywhere and a giant inflatable ball has been bouncing across the square for the last few hours.
Matt Williams, Five Live Sport.

1100: Former England captain and BBC pundit Terry Butcher is one of the early arrivals in anticipation of the big day. And he is delighted to see an England fan wearing a red shirt emblazoned with a number 6 and 'Butcher'. "He must have a good memory but he's made my day," said Butcher.
Phil McNulty, BBC Sport in Frankfurt.

1055: We'll get through the group stages - it might not be easy but we'll get through - and then I think we can go on to win the World Cup. My best mate in the England squad, Crouchy, is in top form and providing that continues I think he could go close to winning the Golden Boot. The robot dance has also been good. A bit of stupidity helps bring the squad together.
Celtic's Dion Dublin, speaking on Five Live.

1056: Security is predictably tight on the way to the stadium. There is a heavy and visible police presence on the approaches from Frankfurt, but all is very good-natured so far. Those entering at a check-point set up well away from the ground are having bags searched and I was scanned twice before being allowed through the first security position.
Phil McNulty, BBC Sport in Frankfurt

1045: We all really want to watch the England game and we have allocated time out of our rehearsals for the concert with Take That so we can see it. I reckon we're going to win against Paraguay and if we do, I promise I'll do the Peter Crouch robot dance during the gig next weekend to raise money for Sport Relief.
Amelle from the Sugababes speaking on Five Live

1035: The camaraderie is there and I think the belief and confidence is there. There is enough quality in the squad to go all the way. There's lots of expectations from the country but I think the boys are ready to handle that. I think Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard will excel in this tournament. I'm really excited, so much so that I think I need to calm down a bit.
BBC analyst Ian Wright outside the stadium in Frankfurt

1030: The preparations are right, the build-up is right, players and fans are excited and want to get started. Players will want to get in, get the result and get out and look forward to the next match. The players will have heard enough and read enough and just want to get going now. I wish I was out there, it's a great feeling sitting in the dressing room knowing that you're about to play a World Cup match.
BBC analyst Alan Shearer outside the stadium in Frankfurt

1022: England's fans are dominating Frankfurt, with red and white shirts adding a splash of colour to a glorious day. Even with almost four hours to go to kick-off they are gathering near the stadium in their thousands. If England don't make a good start to the tournament it won't be for lack of support. It has also just been announced to the media that Prince William will be adding his support for England after signing the Honorary Book of Frankfurt at the stadium.
Phil McNulty, BBC Sport in Frankfurt

1010: Anyone expecting a large, emphatic England victory against Paraguay is perhaps being over-optimistic.
James Pearce, BBC News 24

0930: England players will be greeted by soaring temperatures when they leave their hotel near Frankfurt city centre. The heat is expected to be in the 80s by the time kick-off approaches. Interest in Sven-Goran Eriksson's side is so intense in Germany that even the English media are being captured on television cameras as they leave their hotel.
Phil McNulty, BBC Sport in Frankfurt

0840: The stadium is quite fantastic - there are huge video screens inside which will be showing action replays. Apparently the pitch did dig up a bit yesterday when the teams trained on it.
Filo Holland, Five Live Sport

0810: There will be a few nerves about, there is so much expectation on the players. But I fancy England strongly this time round.
Wigan manager Paul Jewell talking to Five Live Sport