Embolo gives Swiss opening win over Cameroon

Published on: 24 November 2022

Switzerland's Breel Embolo scored the only goal against Cameroon - the country of his birth - in a hard-fought World Cup Group G opener.

Embolo refused to celebrate when he finished off a slick Swiss attack shortly after half-time.

The Indomitable Lions were unfortunate to lose after an enterprising display at the Al Janoub Stadium in Qatar.

Victory was vital for Switzerland, as both sides still have to face Brazil in the group.

'He is my little brother' - Cameroon boss praises Swiss match-winnerHow the game unfoldedFifa World Cup: Groups & ScheduleWorld Cup TV Coverage guide

Embolo moved to Switzerland from Cameroon with his family as a six-year-old and pledged his allegiance to the European nation after being granted citizenship in 2014.

At the age of 18, he set up the Embolo Foundation to support refugee children in Switzerland and disadvantaged children in the country of his birth.

He said before the game it would be "a very special" occasion to play against Cameroon and when he scored, he respectfully raised his arms and closed his eyes.

"I told him, 'Breel, friendship until the start, then they are your opponents,'" said Switzerland coach Murat Yakin. "Football writes such stories but he completed his mission.

"I am very happy with his performance."

Cameroon boss Rigobert Song admitted afterwards he would "have liked him to be on my side" but did say he was "proud" of Embolo.

"We are all proud of our country and you saw he did not celebrate the goal," said Song. "That is part and parcel of football and I'm proud of him."

Embolo's strike ensured victory for a side with high expectations - Yakin has declared his squad "the best Switzerland side ever" and said he expects them to achieve their best return at a World Cup.

After the game, captain Granit Xhaka echoed his coach's comments, arguing "we can beat anyone" and pointing to their record in recent tournaments as evidence of their potential.

Yet Switzerland struggled in the first half in the face of a vibrant Cameroon start and ought to have gone behind, with Eric Choupo-Moting, Bryan Mbeumo and Martin Hongla all missing presentable opportunities.

The goal rocked Cameroon and the Swiss had chances to extend their lead, only for Andre Onana to save superbly from Ruben Vargas, while Embolo and substitute Haris Seferovic were denied by last-ditch defending.

The Indomitable Lions have now lost eight successive games at the World Cup finals but Song's side impressed at times here.

Song admitted afterwards their next game against Serbia will be "decisive" if they are to stand any chance of becoming the first Cameroon team to progress beyond the group stage since 1990.

For Switzerland, the win gives them breathing space before their match against group favourites Brazil on Monday.

Player of the match

XhakaGranit Xhaka

with an average of 7.70

SwitzerlandSwitzerlandSwitzerlandCameroonCameroonCameroon

SwitzerlandAvgSquad number10Player nameXhakaAverage rating

7.70

Squad number23Player nameShaqiriAverage rating

7.49

Squad number8Player nameFreulerAverage rating

7.39

Squad number7Player nameEmboloAverage rating

7.16

Squad number5Player nameAkanjiAverage rating

6.53

Squad number13Player nameRodríguezAverage rating

6.34

Squad number9Player nameSeferovicAverage rating

6.14

Squad number1Player nameSommerAverage rating

6.11

Squad number3Player nameWidmerAverage rating

6.04

Squad number4Player nameElvediAverage rating

6.02

Squad number17Player nameVargasAverage rating

5.81

Squad number15Player nameSowAverage rating

5.80

Squad number20Player nameFreiAverage rating

5.75

Squad number25Player nameRiederAverage rating

5.58

Squad number19Player nameOkaforAverage rating

5.43

Squad number18Player nameCömertAverage rating

5.37

CameroonAvgSquad number13Player nameChoupo-MotingAverage rating

7.61

Squad number20Player nameMbeumoAverage rating

6.98

Squad number23Player nameOnanaAverage rating

6.37

Squad number5Player nameOndouaAverage rating

6.09

Squad number12Player nameToko-EkambiAverage rating

5.88

Squad number10Player nameAboubakarAverage rating

5.79

Squad number6Player nameNgamaleuAverage rating

5.78

Squad number3Player nameNkoulouAverage rating

5.77

Squad number14Player nameOum GouetAverage rating

5.68

Squad number25Player nameToloAverage rating

5.66

Squad number18Player nameHonglaAverage rating

5.63

Squad number8Player nameAnguissaAverage rating

5.63

Squad number21Player nameCastellettoAverage rating

5.51

Squad number19Player nameCollins FaiAverage rating

5.48

Squad number7Player nameNkoudouAverage rating

5.46

Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text

Line-upsSwitzerland

Formation 4-2-3-1

1Sommer3Widmer5Akanji4Elvedi13Rodríguez8Freuler10Xhaka23Shaqiri15Sow17Vargas7Embolo

Booked at 83mins

Booked at 64mins

Substitutes

2Fernandes6Zakaria9Seferovic12Omlin14Aebischer16Fassnacht18Cömert19Okafor20Frei21Kobel22Schär24Köhn25Rieder26Jashari

Cameroon

Formation 4-3-3

23Onana19Fai Collins21Castelletto3Nkoulou25Tolo8Anguissa14Oum Gouet18Hongla20Mbeumo13Choupo-Moting12Toko-Ekambi

Booked at 36mins

Substitutes

1Ngapandouetnbu2Ngom Mbekeli4Wooh5Ondoua6Ngamaleu7Nkoudou9Nsame10Aboubakar11Bassogog15Kunde16Epassy17Mbaizo22Ntcham24Ebosse26Marou

Referee:Facundo TelloAttendance:39,089Match StatsHome TeamSwitzerlandAway TeamCameroonPossessionHome51%Away49%ShotsHome7Away8Shots on TargetHome3Away5CornersHome11Away5FoulsHome12Away10Live TextPost update

Match ends, Switzerland 1, Cameroon 0.

90'+7'Full Time

Second Half ends, Switzerland 1, Cameroon 0.

90'+6'Post update

Manuel Akanji (Switzerland) wins a free kick on the right wing.

90'+6'Post update

Foul by Georges-Kévin Nkoudou (Cameroon).

90'+5'Post update

Corner, Switzerland. Conceded by Jean-Charles Castelletto.

90'+5'Post update

Attempt blocked. Haris Seferovic (Switzerland) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Fabian Rieder with a headed pass.

90'+2'Post update

Corner, Switzerland. Conceded by Nouhou Tolo.

90'Substitution

Substitution, Switzerland. Eray Cömert replaces Ricardo Rodríguez.

90'Post update

Foul by Gaël Ondoua (Cameroon).

90'Post update

Fabian Rieder (Switzerland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

88'Post update

Attempt saved. Granit Xhaka (Switzerland) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Noah Okafor.

86'Post update

Foul by Moumi Ngamaleu (Cameroon).

86'Post update

Ricardo Rodríguez (Switzerland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

83'Booking

Manuel Akanji (Switzerland) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

83'Post update

Foul by Manuel Akanji (Switzerland).

83'Post update

Frank Anguissa (Cameroon) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

82'Post update

Corner, Switzerland. Conceded by Nicolas Nkoulou.

81'Substitution

Substitution, Cameroon. Moumi Ngamaleu replaces Bryan Mbeumo.

81'Substitution

Substitution, Switzerland. Fabian Rieder replaces Rubén Vargas.

79'Post update

Foul by Fabian Frei (Switzerland).

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