By Laura Hunter
QATAR – Breel Embolo, a Cameroon native, scored the only goal of a cagey game to earn Switzerland a winning start to their Group G campaign.
Born in Cameroon’s capital Yaounde but raised in Basel, Embolo is representing the Swiss at his second World Cup, having received citizenship in 2014.
The striker rounded off a free-flowing move in the 48th minute, sweeping home a low cutback from Xherdan Shaqiri, but opted for a muted celebration given his connection to the African nation.
“He completed his mission,” manager Murat Yakin declared.
Former Liverpool forward Shaqiri, Switzerland’s creative catalyst, has been directly involved in exactly half of his side’s 24 goals across their last four appearances at major tournament finals.
Despite plunging his side to defeat, Cameroon head coach Rigobert Song reserved a word of praise for match-winner Embolo, telling reporters at the Al Janoub Stadium: “he is my little brother.”
“We often speak to each other on the phone and I wanted to congratulate him,” Song continued. “Just because we are on different teams, it does not mean we are not still brothers.”
The Swiss goal arrived after Cameroon, without a win in the World Cup for 20-years, had dominated an entertaining first half, missing several chances to seize the initiative.
The Indomitable Lions had eliminated Algeria in a play-off to qualify for the tournament, and carried much of that momentum into their Group G opener, using pace and power to outmanoeuvre their European opponents.
Bryan Mbeumo tested goalkeeper Yann Sommer in the 10th minute, before Karl Toko Ekambi sent his rebound over the bar, while in-form forward Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting was also a danger as Cameroon gained purchase with swift counter-attacking moves.
Switzerland’s Manuel Akanji outjumps Cameroon defenders to head the ball during the World Cup Group G match
Head coach Yakin – who professed to be overseeing the “best Switzerland national team to have ever existed” pre-tournament – will have been relieved when talisman Shaqiri got to the byline and pulled the ball back to an unmarked Embolo three minutes into the second period.
The Monaco forward applied a simple first-time finish, before raising his hands in what appeared to be a gesture of apology after scoring – he has incidentally found the net in each of his last three competitive appearances.
An almost identical move just past the hour mark threatened to wrap the game up, but Ruben Vargas’s shot was pushed wide by goalkeeper Andre Onana, as Switzerland belatedly began to offer a glimpse of the threat and urgency their manager had previously promised.
Speaking about the contribution of Embolo, Yakin said: “We know his story. I told him before the game ‘Breel, friendship until the start, then they are your opponents’.
“Football write such stories but he completed his mission. I am very happy with his performance.”
What does the result mean?
Cameroon’s streak of losses at World Cup finals has extended to eight games, dating back to 2002, but they have the chance to improve that record when facing Serbia on November 28; kick-off 10am. Switzerland next face hotly-tipped Brazil on the same day; kick-off 4pm.
