1737 GMT: It's around 29 degrees at the Donbass Arena, says AFP's Philippe Grelard, who is mingling with fans as they arrive.
1735 GMT: The Spanish have arrived. Zabi Alonso, in line for his 100th cap, was first off the bus.
1733 GMT: France are the first to arrive, though Spain as Group C winners are technically the home team.
1732 GMT: France's former captain Zinedine Zidane celebrates his 40th birthday today. He now lives in Madrid, so will have conflicting loyalties for tonight's match.
1731 GMT: Arsenal centre-back Laurent Koscielny is ready to step into the breach against Spain despite having only made three international appearances. A suspension for Philippe Mexes means that Koscielny will line up alongside Adil Rami in central defence.
1729 GMT: Ramos says of Benzema: "We have a great relationship and we keep in touch via text messages. He might not have had a great beginning (to the tournament), but I think he's a great forward. If you lose him for a second, he can score a goal."
1727 GMT: Spanish centre-back Sergio Ramos will be in direct opposition to his Real Madrid club-mate Karim Benzema, barely a month since they celebrated lifting the Spanish league title with Jose Mourinho's squad.
Although yet to score at the Euro, Benzema will be central to France's hopes of springing an upset and Ramos knows it will be important to keep him under close surveillance.
1725 GMT: Tonight's Spain-France game is also a precursor to the 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign, for which they are drawn in the same group, but both teams will only have eyes tonight for a semi-final date with Ronaldo and co.
1722 GMT: Opposing coach Vicente del Bosque believes Spain "under-estimated" France when they lost to them in the last 16 at the 2006 World Cup but says there is no danger of that happening again tonight.
Del Bosque is unlikely to make radical changes to his team, with Fernando Torres expected to hold on to his place at the point of the attack.
1720 GMT: The number of short, technically gifted midfielders in France's squad bears testament to Laurent Blanc's admiration for Spain.
Since replacing Raymond Domenech at the France helm after the 2010 World Cup, Blanc has attempted to inculcate a passing game that mirrors the Spaniards' approach and his squad is an eloquent demonstration of that ambition.
Blanc has only two genuine strikers at his disposal -- Karim Benzema and Olivier Giroud -- but can call upon a wealth of nimble creative midfielders such as Samir Nasri, Franck Ribery, Jeremy Menez, Hatem Ben Arfa and Marvin Martin.
1717 GMT: Spain have never beaten France in a competitive match but won their latest meeting 2-0 in a friendly at Stade de France prior to the 2010 World Cup.
Fernando Torres (left) and Sergio Ramos take part in a Spain squad training session in Gniewino. Spain are playing France in Donestsk in the third Euro 2012 quarter final.
Spain started Euro 2012 slowly with a 1-1 draw against Italy before restoring morale by trouncing Ireland 4-0, then leaving it until the 88th minute to notch the only goal of their match against Croatia, enabling them to top Group C.
France also began with a 1-1 draw and then saw off Ukraine 2-0, but disaster struck when Sweden beat them by the reverse score, ending a 23-match unbeaten run and meaning that France had to settle for second spot in Group D.
1715 GMT: Spain are reigning European and World Champions but France have battled back from their 2010 World Cup debacle and are bidding to emulate the glory days when they won the World Cup in 1998 and the European competition in 2000.
WELCOME TO AFP'S LIVE REPORT on the third Euro 2012 quarter-final, between Spain and France. The match kicks off in Donetsk at 1845 GMT. Stay with us for all the team news and build up to the match.
Tonight's winners will take on Portugal in the first semi-final in Donetsk on Wednesday.