Switzerland tamed the ‘Indomitable Lions’ of Cameroon with a 1-0 win in their first game in the World Cup in Qatar-2022, this Thursday in Doha, with a solitary goal from Breel Embolo, born precisely in that African country.
Embolo scored the only goal of the game at the start of the second half, in the 48th minute, and Switzerland provisionally took command of group G, which is completed by Brazil and Serbia.
After their commendable Euro Cup last year, in which they eliminated world champions France in the round of 16 and lost to Spain on penalties in the quarterfinals, Switzerland manages to start off on the right foot in search of a new qualification for the round of 16. as he achieved in four of his last five World Cups.
In the case of Cameroon, the defeat greatly complicates the panorama in the group and the team whose federation is chaired by Samuel Eto’o will not have an easy time advancing to the round, something that they only achieved on one previous occasion, in their historic participation in Italy-1990, when they became the first African team to reach a quarter-final.
The legendary Roger Milla participated in that edition, who in the run-up to the match this Thursday was honored by FIFA, who gave him a diploma in recognition of his status as the oldest scorer in a World Cup final phase, scoring the only goal of Cameroon in the 6-1 defeat against Russia in the United States-1994, when he was 42 years and 31 days old.
two very different parts
At the start of the match, Cameroon had had good opportunities to get ahead on the scoreboard.
In the 10th minute, Karl Toko-Ekambi sent a high ball on a great occasion and in the 14th minute goalkeeper Yann Sommer beat Eric Choupo-Moting one-on-one.
In minute 34, the savior of the Swiss was the defense Silvan Widmer, who anticipated Ekambi, who had everything in his favour.
The Swiss did not wake up until late in the first half.
Jean-Charles Castelletto prevented Embolo from going one-on-one with the Cameroonian goalkeeper, Andre Onana, and in the discount of the first part a ball hung by Rubén Vargas was about to serve for the first of the Swiss, but Manuel Akanji sends out by little.
Switzerland opened the scoring at the start of the second half, with a pass from Xherdan Shaqiri’s death that Embolo converted at 48.
A Choupo-Moting connection with Asanji was about to become the tie, in minute 67, but Switzerland continued to control the situation and arrived with more fluidity, showing a very different face than in the first half.
Vargas, with a Dominican father, had a great chance in 1968.
In ’74, the Cameroonian coach surprised by substituting Choupo-Moting, the most active player in his attack.
Cameroon could not find the way and Switzerland continued to be closer to the goal.
Defender Castelletto saved his team again in minute 85 and Switzerland could not breathe easy until the end, where they were able to celebrate their first three points.
On the second day, Switzerland will have a presumably key duel for the leadership of the group, on Monday against Brazil, while Cameroon will narrow down their options on the same day against Serbia.