Sport

FIFA World Cup 2022: Bril Embolo’s strike helps Switzerland win over Cameroon

November 24, 2022
Bharat Times

FIFA World Cup 2022: Brielle Embolo’s goal gave Switzerland a 1-0 World Cup win over Cameroon on Thursday and he kept his promise not to score against the country where he was born. Yaoundé’s Swiss forward struck with a right-footed shot in the 48th minute, standing alone eight meters (yards) into the center of the goal to pick up Xherdan Shaqiri’s low pass.

Embolo then pursed his lips into a wry smile and spread his hands wide before raising his hands in a gesture of apology as teammates approached him near the penalty spot. He pointed to the Swiss fans behind the goal where he had scored to the Cameroonian fans in the opposite corner of the Al Janoub Stadium.

The 25-year-old forward left Cameroon with his family at the age of five. He spent time in France before settling in Switzerland, the country he is now representing in his second World Cup. Although an African-born player scored, teams from Africa are now goalless in four matches played at this World Cup. All played higher ranked teams, and Morocco and Tunisia earned 0–0 draws against Croatia and Denmark, respectively.

Cameroon’s losing streak in World Cup finals tournaments extended to eight games since 2002. Brazil and Serbia are also in Group G and they meet later on Thursday.
In Embolo’s move to score, it was too easy for the Swiss to quickly pass the ball through Cameroon’s defensive lines from the left flank to the right.

The rapid Swiss start in the second half contrasted with the lackluster first half, which can hardly be explained by the 1am kickoff, one of only seven games in Qatar being played entirely in daylight. The heat peaked at 29 Celsius (84 Fahrenheit), the humidity was low and much of the playing field was in the shade.

Cameroon missed a clear chance to score in the 10th minute. A long, straight pass from Switzerland’s central defenders led to Karl Toko Ekambi hitting a half-volley over the bar from only 10 meters (yards).

Cameron applied little pressure in an attempt to level the game. In the 66th, André-Franc Zambo Anguissa’s header was aimed straight at goalkeeper Yann Sommer, who made an easy save.
In the next game, a Swiss player almost scored from the right but was saved by goalkeeper Andre Onana from Ruben Vargas.

got time

Before the match, Cameroonian legend Roger Millie was paraded on the ground. Fans were shown a video montage of his goals at the 1990 World Cup where Cameroon became the first African team to advance to the quarter-finals.

Mili was joined by one of Cameroon’s greatest players, Samuel Eto’o, who is now the head of its football federation. When did Eto’o score the only goal when Cameroon won the last World Cup? 1-0 against Saudi Arabia in 2002.

referee’s quiet day

It was a quiet day for referee Facundo Tello as he sent off 10 players in Argentina just ahead of their arrival in Qatar. He red carded seven players from Boca Juniors and three from Racing Club after an extra-time brawl. Here, Tello showed three yellow cards and no red cards. This was the 13th match in the World Cup and no player has been sent off so far.

next

Switzerland next face Group H favorites Brazil on Monday evening in Doha.