Brazil v Ivory Coast. It just smacks of World Cup gold doesn't it?

If, like me, this was one of those matches that caught your eye as soon as you checked out your World Cup fixture wallchart, you'll be more excited than a six-year-old at Christmas right now. And I don't blame you one bit. The Samba Stars v the Elephants, South America v Africa, the World Cup masters v the relative newcomers. I'm banking on this being a right royal cracker. Excited?

I'm Sam Lyon and I'll be bringing you all the news and action from Soccer City in Johannesburg as Brazil and Ivory Coast play out what I guarantee will be a barnstormer. I'd rather not do it all on my own, though, so take this chance to get your missives flying in to me. Tweet me @sampatricklyon, text me on 81111 (UK) and +44 7786200666 (worldwide) or continue the chat over on 606. Have it.

Now then, just where do we start? There are more talking points coming out of South Africa right now than you could shake a Vuvuzela at, and any fears early on that this tournament was going to be dull have been well and truly blown out of the water. At this very moment, the French are sulking, the Italians are scratching their heads, the English are meeting and Pavlos Joseph is still looking for the toilet (possibly). Drama drama drama.

But, like I say, I'm banking on Brazil-Ivory Coast to get us back talking about matters ON the field again by 10pm BST tonight. Brazil may not be the fluent attacking force of days gone by, but they remain a side packed full of talent - and the Ivory Coast, with a new responsibility instilled in them by Sven-Goran Eriksson, are more than capable of providing an upset. Predictions?

It's the tournament that turned form on its head isn't it? While England, Spain, Italy and France - to name a few - have limped tamely through the early stages of the tournament, the likes of Paraguay, Chile, Mexico and Uruguay are making the world sit up and take notice. After a creditable draw against Portugal first up, who's betting against the Elephants continuing that trend tonight?

Brazil, however, are sure to provide tough opposition - even if their coach Dunga is very much a man under pressure. The South American press don't like the World Cup-winning midfielder's negativity, his diffidence with the media nor his insistence on employing actual tactics during Brazil matches. Imagine what their reaction would have been had they not beaten North Korea first up?

Of course this match pits two men - Dunga and Sven-Goran Eriksson - against each other more than 20 years after they were player-and-coach at Fiorentina in 1988-89. "He's one of the best footballers I ever had," the Swede said in his pre-match press conference. "I'm not surprised Brazil are extremely well-organised." The Master v The Apprentice then?

Brazil are unchanged from the line-up that started against North Korea, while Ivory Coast bring Didier Drogba back into the side at the expense of Gervinho.

Brazil: 1-Julio Cesar; 2-Maicon, 3-Lucio, 4-Juan, 6-Michel Bastos, 5-Felipe Melo, 8-Gilberto Silva, 7-Elano, 10-Kaka, 11-Robinho, 9-Luis Fabiano.
Ivory Coast: 1-Boubacar Barry; 21-Emmanuel Eboue, 4-Kolo Toure, 20-Guy Demel, 17-Siaka Tiene, 5-Didier Zokora, 19-Yaya Toure, 9-Cheik Tiote, 8-Salomon Kalou, 11-Didier Drogba, 15-Aruna Dindane.
Referee: Stephane Lannoy (France)

This is also a chance for revenge for Sven-Goran Eriksson, whose England side were knocked out by Brazil in the 2002 World Cup quarter-final. I wonder if the Swede has had Boubacar Barry practising holding on to long-range free-kicks?

Seems to be enjoying himself in South Africa doesn't he Sven-Goran Eriksson? "It has been wonderful, I have enjoyed every day." What a contrast to his time in charge of the Three Lions. Fabio Capello is currently finding out just what it means to have to deal with England struggling in a major tournament - something Eriksson knows about all too well. BBC Sports Editor David Bond has learned the Football Association expects Don Fabio to resign if England are knocked out of the World Cup on Wednesday night, something that John Terry is rather keen to avoid. England are just timing their return to form perfectly, though... right?

Fans of Jonathan Stevenson will be delighted to hear that the little fella has only gone and bagged a press pass for this evening's game. Glory be. He'll be bringing you your match report - and plenty more from inside Soccer City besides I'd wager - so keep your eyes peeled for that folks.

Stat-attack time for you. Brazil have participated in all 18 previous World Cups, have won the most world titles (5), have won the most WC matches (65) and have scored the most WC goals (203). The Ivory Coast are competing in only their second World Cup, having failed to get through the group stages in 2006. The two teams have never previously met in international football, while Brazil have never lost a World Cup match against a team from a continent outside of Europe or South America. My brain really is that impressive.

The players are out and about completing their warm-ups now at the Soccer City Stadium, and to a man they all look a relaxed and focused bunch. Looks can be deceiving, of course, but I'm still thinking this match has the potential to be a cracker. Plenty of empty seats around (again) but maybe it will fill up by kick-off.

Right, time for a Sammy Prediction? Why not. I'm going for a Brazil win 3-2. Get your hard-earned readies on that bad boy asap if you want to win BIG*.
*Doing this will more than likely result in you losing your hard-earned readies, so best you keep your cash in your pocket.

Here come the teams, and we're about to enjoy the anthems. I'm so excited.

Less than a minute on the clock and Robinho has already picked up where he left off against North Korea. He leads a Brazil charge at the Ivorian defence before unleashing a dipping effort from range that flies narrowly over Boubacar Barry's bar.

Brazil already shifting the ball about nicely, though the Ivory Coast appear happy enough to let them play around in front of their defence. Sven's men yet to really get on the ball at all.

There's a rare thing at this World Cup - a poor touch from Robinho. Before that Brazil had built well, but the Manchester City man's miscontrol ends the move on the edge of the Ivorian box.

First spell of possession for the Ivory Coast - and it comes courtesy of two simple tackles on Kaka that sees the Brazilian playmaker dispossessed with ease twice in a minute. He really does look out of sorts, the Real Madrid star.

This match has yet to spark into life just yet, and the Ivory Coast will be happy enough with that I'm sure. And Sven's men have a free-kick now 30 yards from goal to the right...

... but Didier Drogba gets it all wrong, slapping a wild effort on goal miles wide. Shame.

Another Ivory Coast free-kick and this time the delivery is much better, Emmanuel Eboue forcing Brazil keeper Julio Cesar into a brave punch under pressure to clear the Ivorian's cross.

Corner to Brazil and Gilberto Silva thrashes a volley goalwards from Elano's delivery, only to see his effort well blocked and cleared. Might have been going wide anyway. Hhmm.

They did it against Portugal in the first match, and Ivory Coast look like they're doing it again with a performance full of composure, strategy and discipline. Brazil finding it hard to spark in the face of two lines of four. And Sven's smiling on the bench - happy days for the Swede.

Now then, how will the Ivory Coast respond? Not only have they fallen a goal behind, but two Brazilians desperate for a return to form - Kaka and Luis Fabiano - have only gone and chosen this match to do so in a move of real class.

The wind has been taken out of the Ivory Coast's sails by that Luis Fabiano goal, and Didier Drogba is an island up front on his own. I'm not sure he's even seen the ball for a good few minutes - that will have to change if Sven's men want to get back into this.

Two chances for Ivory Coast in quick succession, both to Aruna Dindane. The frontman should really do better with the first, a snap-shot from Emmanuel Eboue's cross that is blocked, but he troubles Julio Cesar a touch more with the second as the Brazil keeper does well to get behind a dipping effort from range. Encouraging for the Elephants.

Again, better from the Ivory Coast. Emmanuel Eboue breaks and gets at the Brazil defence, drilling an effort that goes just wide from 20 yards. Looked like it should have been a corner for a deflection off Juan, too.

Michel Bastos is picked out beautifully on the left with a glorious cross-field pass from Gilberto Silva, but Kaka's clipped cross from Bastos's lay-off is helped back to his keeper by Siaka Tiene.

And Brazil get us up and under way in this second half at an increasingly chilly Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg.

Gervinho is already getting warm on the touchlines, and I imagine it won't be too long before we see the Ivory Coast substitute striker if things stay as they are. Didier Drogba simply doesn't look fit to me.

Almost an immediate response from the Ivory Coast and it's their best opening of the match by a mile. Aruna Dindane works some space on the right and sends a great cross towards Didier Drogba, whose header back across goal drifts inches wide. Close.

As Ivory Coast start to build up a head of steam, finally, our friends at Infostrada Sports tell us that the last Brazilian to score a World Cup hat-trick was a 17-year-old called Pele. He scored three goals against France in a 5-2 win on 24 June 1958. Something for Luis Fabiano to think about maybe?

Moments after Didier Drogba is wrongly adjudged to be offside in a promising Ivory Coast attack, Gervinho is millimetres away from collecting a Salomon Kalou pass as he bursts inside the box.

This is a bit more like it - end-to-end football. Elano tries his luck from range, but the Brazil midfielder's effort is a couple of yards wide.

Oh, that's quality. Kaka and Robinho combine well and the former lashes goalwards, only to be denied by the Ivorian keeper high above his head. Lovely move.

With Brazil more comfortable than a pair of Christmas slippers, suddenly they have something to worry about as Elano screams in agony after Cheik Tiote goes over the ball and crunches his studs into the Brazilian's shin. Ouch.

Yep, 3-0 up and Brazil have lit the touch-paper. Maicon, Kaka and Robinho are all enjoying themselves immensely and the way they are knocking the ball around, you would expect a fourth for the Samba Stars - and soon.

Well, the Ivory Coast aren't going down without a fight and fair play to them. Romaric - who has just come on in place of Emmanuel Eboue - pings in a shot from 30 yards and Julio Cesar has to scramble to beat it away. Decent effort.

Yet more quality interplay from Brazil, involving Robinho, Kaka and Dani Alves this time. It ends with Brazil earning a corner... but Alves's set-piece is cleared easily.

That's the first goal by an African side against Brazil in a World Cup - and the Ivorians look like they fancy getting another here...

A minute into added time and Ivory Coast almost have their second, Kader Keita pulling a crossfield pass back into the centre of the box but Brazil keeper Julio Cesar out well to punch clear with Didier Drogba looming.

A poor, poor game from referee Stephane Lannoy, then, to take the shine off an otherwise good match. The Frenchman missed a handball in the build-up to Luis Fabiano's second, failed to admonish Cheik Tiote for his foul on Elano that ended the Brazilian's night's work, and then dismissed Kaka for absolutely nothing right at the end. Shame.

"We conceded a couple of easy goals, the first goal Brazil scored was very good. I thought we came back well but we couldn't score more than one. We were unlucky with the handballs (for Fabiano's second goal), the referee didn't see that, it shouldn't have been allowed."

By the way, that sending-off means Kaka will definitely miss Brazil's final group game against Portugal - and that, ironically, is exactly what the Ivory Coast probably don't want given they need the Samba Stars to win that one in all likelihood. I wonder if Fifa will look now at Kader Keita's reaction at all.

Right, that's all from me folks. Top work from the Brazilians tonight - not such top work from referee Stephane Lannoy and Ivorian midfielder Kader Keita, though. Still, the Samba boys are in the last 16 - and the Ivory Coast could yet join them if results go their way. Tomorrow the other two teams of Group G - Portugal and North Korea - face off, before Chile-Switzerland and Spain-Honduras later in the day. Pranav Soneji will kick you off tomorrow morning, so make sure you're front and centre for that one. See ya.