Breel Embolo scored against the country of his birth as
Switzerland defeated Cameroon 1-0 to make a winning start to their World Cup
campaign on Thursday.
Embolo struck three minutes into the second half at Al
Janoub Stadium as Switzerland secured a vital three points in a group that
includes tournament favourites Brazil and Serbia.
Cameroon have now lost their last eight World Cup matches
going back to 2002.
Roger Milla was presented with an award before kick-off as
the oldest goalscorer in World Cup history, a reminder of past glories for
Cameroon who have won just one game since reaching the quarter-finals 32 years
ago.
Cameroon coach Rigobert Song, who played at four World Cups
including with a 42-year-old Milla in 1994, opted for the in-form Eric Maxim
Choupo-Moting to lead the attack in place of usual captain Vincent Aboubakar.
African teams had made an encouraging start in Qatar after
all five failed to get past the group stage in 2018, but Cameroon will regret
not making more of a first half they controlled.
Bryan Mbeumo fired at Yann Sommer after a superb ball
through from Martin Hongla before Karl Toko Ekambi lashed over the rebound.
Sommer then got down low to save from Choupo-Moting after he
pinched the ball away from Manuel Akanji, although a questionable foul was
given against the Bayern Munich striker.
Silvan Widmer made a vital challenge to stop Toko Ekambi
turning in a cross from Collins Fai and Sommer pushed away a weak effort by
Hongla.
Akanji glanced wide at a corner as Cameroon switched off on
the stroke of half-time but there was no such escape when they were again
caught napping at the start the second half.
Granit Xhaka and Remo Freuler worked the ball out wide on
the right to Xherdan Shaqiri whose low cross into the area was swept home by an
unmarked Embolo, who chose not to celebrate against his birth country.
Choupo-Moting neatly weaved his way past a couple of
defenders in the box but couldn’t beat Sommer from a tight angle.
Andre Onana kept Cameroon in the game with a brilliant stop
to deny Ruben Vargas who found himself completely free in an almost carbon copy
of Embolo’s goal.
Only a desperate block prevented Haris Seferovic from adding
a late second.
Song said the rankings meant nothing coming into the
tournament, but Cameroon’s eighth World Cup appearance risks being brief with
games to come against Serbia and Brazil.