Breel Embolo (2nd L) of Switzerland reacts after scoring during the Group G match between Switzerland and Cameroon at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Ming)
DOHA, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- Breel Embolo scored the only goal to lift Switzerland past his native country Cameroon in their World Cup Group G opening match here on Thursday.
Embolo, who moved to Europe with his mother as a boy, scored in the 47th minute after receiving a low cross from captain Granit Xhaka.
Cameroon's miserable run at the world's most important tournament continued after losing their 10th consecutive World Cup match.
The Indomitable Lions, who claimed a shock victory over Diego Maradona's Argentina at the 1990 World Cup, scored only one victory in their last 15 World Cup matches.
They were confident at the Al Janoub Stadium, looking more likely to win the match from the start thanks to some brilliant moves upfront.
Only 10 minutes into the action, a brilliant through pass found Bryan Mbeumo on the left side. The Brentford forward raced into the box but his shot was stopped by Switzerland goalkeeper Yann Sommer. Karl Toko-Ekambi then fired the rebound over the bar from 10 meters.
Martin Hongla delivered another effort on the right but Sommer once again made a great save.
The Swiss side did not create any clear-cut chance until two minutes into the stoppage time. Manuel Akanji jumped high to head Remo Freuler's corner wide of the left post.
Two minutes after the interval, Murat Yakin's side took the lead the easy way. Shaqiri sent a cross from the right and Embolo had a comfortable tap-in from six meters.
The 25-year-old Embolo, who joined Monaco from Borussia Moenchengladbach in the summer, did not celebrate because he was born in Cameroon.
Embolo should have doubled the lead but his shot was too high under pressure from Frank Zambo Anguissa.
Second half substitute also wasted a chance in the last minute as his close-range shot was blocked by Jean-Charles Castelletto.
Switzerland will next play against Brazil in four days while Cameroon is going to take on Serbia. ■
Players of Cameroon pose for group photos before the Group G match between Switzerland and Cameroon at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Jia Haocheng)
Players of Switzerland pose for group photos before the Group G match between Switzerland and Cameroon at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)
Rigobert Song, head coach of Cameroon, reacts before the Group G match between Switzerland and Cameroon at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Xia Yifang)
Murat Yakin, head coach of Switzerland, reacts before the Group G match between Switzerland and Cameroon at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Ming)
Xherdan Shaqiri (R) of Switzerland vies with Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa of Cameroon during the Group G match between Switzerland and Cameroon at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Xia Yifang)
Yann Sommer (R), goalkeeper of Switzerland, makes a save during the Group G match between Switzerland and Cameroon at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)
Martin Hongla (top) of Cameroon vies for a header during the Group G match between Switzerland and Cameroon at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Jia Haocheng)
Karl Toko Ekambi (C) of Cameroon reacts during the Group G match between Switzerland and Cameroon at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Ming)
Breel Embolo (L) of Switzerland falls on the defense of Jean-Charles Castelletto (C) of Cameroon during the Group G match between Switzerland and Cameroon at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Xia Yifang)
Yann Sommer (R), goalkeeper of Switzerland, makes a save during the Group G match between Switzerland and Cameroon at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)
Xherdan Shaqiri of Switzerland reacts during the Group G match between Switzerland and Cameroon at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Jia Haocheng)
Granit Xhaka (1st L) of Switzerland shoots during the Group G match between Switzerland and Cameroon at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)
Martin Hongla (L) of Cameroon vies with Remo Freuler of Switzerland during the Group G match between Switzerland and Cameroon at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Xia Yifang)
Andre Onana (front), goalkeeper of Cameroon, fails to save the goal from Breel Embolo of Switzerland during the Group G match between Switzerland and Cameroon at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Ming)
Breel Embolo (1st R) of Switzerland hugs teammate Granit Xhaka (2nd R) after scoring during the Group G match between Switzerland and Cameroon at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Ming)
Breel Embolo (front C) of Switzerland vies with Nicolas Nkoulou (front R) of Cameroon during the Group G match between Switzerland and Cameroon at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Jia Haocheng)
Martin Hongla (R) of Cameroon passes the ball during the Group G match between Switzerland and Cameroon at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Ming)
Bryan Mbeumo (R) of Cameroon vies with Nico Elvedi of Switzerland during the Group G match between Switzerland and Cameroon at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)
Manuel Akanji of Switzerland controls the ball during the Group G match between Switzerland and Cameroon at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Jia Haocheng)
Breel Embolo (1st R) of Switzerland reacts after scoring during the Group G match between Switzerland and Cameroon at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Ming)
Rigobert Song, head coach of Cameroon, reacts during the Group G match between Switzerland and Cameroon at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Jia Haocheng)
Manuel Akanji (2nd R) of Switzerland reacts after missing a goal during the Group G match between Switzerland and Cameroon at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Jia Haocheng)
Xherdan Shaqiri (R) of Switzerland shoots during the Group G match between Switzerland and Cameroon at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Ming)
Ricardo Rodriguez (2nd L) of Switzerland falls on the defense of Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa (3rd L) of Cameroon during the Group G match between Switzerland and Cameroon at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)
Jean-Charles Castelletto (top) of Cameroon vies for a header during the Group G match between Switzerland and Cameroon at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)
Collins Fai (C) of Cameroon reacts during the Group G match between Switzerland and Cameroon at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Ming)
Yann Sommer (front, 2nd R), goalkeeper of Switzerland, vies with Nicolas Nkoulou (1st R) of Cameroon during the Group G match between Switzerland and Cameroon at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Xia Yifang)
Nouhou Tolo (C) of Cameroon vies with Noah Okafor (R) of Switzerland during the Group G match between Switzerland and Cameroon at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)
Nicolas Nkoulou (top) of Cameroon pulls Breel Embolo of Switzerland up during the Group G match between Switzerland and Cameroon at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Xia Yifang)
Martin Hongla (C) of Cameroon vies with Remo Freuler (R) of Switzerland during the Group G match between Switzerland and Cameroon at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Xia Yifang)
Rigobert Song, head coach of Cameroon, reacts during the Group G match between Switzerland and Cameroon at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Jia Haocheng)
Referee Facundo Tello (L) shows a yellow card to Nico Elvedi (C) of Switzerland during the Group G match between Switzerland and Cameroon at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Jia Haocheng)
Bryan Mbeumo (L) of Cameroon vies with Ricardo Rodriguez (R) of Switzerland during the Group G match between Switzerland and Cameroon at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Xia Yifang)
Collins Fai (L) of Cameroon vies for a header during the Group G match between Switzerland and Cameroon at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Ming)
Nouhou Tolo (R) of Cameroon vies with Noah Okafor of Switzerland during the Group G match between Switzerland and Cameroon at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)
Christian Bassogog of Cameroon warms up by the field during the Group G match between Switzerland and Cameroon at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Jia Haocheng)
Rigobert Song (bottom, front L), head coach of Cameroon, and Breel Embolo (bottom, front R) of Switzerland react after the Group G match between Switzerland and Cameroon at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Xia Yifang)
Manuel Akanji (2nd R) of Switzerland fouls to Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa (1st R) of Cameroon during the Group G match between Switzerland and Cameroon at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Xia Yifang)
Players of Switzerland celebrate after the Group G match between Switzerland and Cameroon at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)
Players of Cameroon react after the Group G match between Switzerland and Cameroon at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Jia Haocheng)
Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa of Cameroon reacts after the Group G match between Switzerland and Cameroon at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Jia Haocheng)
Players of Switzerland celebrate after the Group G match between Switzerland and Cameroon at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)
Players of Switzerland celebrate after the Group G match between Switzerland and Cameroon at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)
Players of Switzerland celebrate after the Group G match between Switzerland and Cameroon at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)
Murat Yakin (bottom, 3rd L), head coach of Switzerland, greets Rigobert Song (bottom, 2nd L), head coach of Cameroon, after the Group G match between Switzerland and Cameroon at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Nov. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Xia Yifang)
