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Breel Embolo gets Switzerland off to a winning start against Cameroon.
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Switzerland defeats Cameroon in the World Cup in a close match thanks to an apology from Breel Embolo.
On Thursday, Breel Embolo, a Cameroonian native, scored against the flow of play to give Switzerland a 1-0 victory over Cameroon to start World Cup Group G.
Breel Embolo’s goal was enough to give Switzerland a tough victory over Cameroon in their first World Cup game.
Embolo, a Yaounde-born but Basel-raised player, scored off an Xherdan Shaqiri cut-back three minutes into the second half to give his team the lead in the division.
At Al Janoub Stadium, the 25-year-old resisted celebrating the goal while the few Swiss supporters erupted in jubilant applause.
The goal came after Cameroon, which had controlled the first half but had missed numerous golden chances to take the lead and had not won in the World Cup in 20 years, scored.
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The Indomitable Lions outplayed the Swiss in the first 45 minutes with quick combinations, speed, and power as their opponents stayed ineffective up front. Algeria was eliminated by the Indomitable Lions in a playoff to qualify for the tournament.
After ten minutes, they created their first opportunity as Bryan Mbeumo tested Yann Sommer in the net before Karl Toko Ekambi hit the rebound over the crossbar.
Later on, the in-form striker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting put the Swiss in danger once more when he stole the ball from an opponent and charged into the box, but Sommer stopped him.
While the Swiss rarely managed to enter their opponents’ box, Cameroon was more daring in the pursuit of their first victory at a World Cup in 20 years.
At the beginning of the second half, Switzerland, who had advanced to the round of 16 in each of the previous two World Cups, scored when Xherdan Shaqiri sliced into the box and Embolo tapped in what would ultimately be the game-winning goal.
Just after the hour mark, the Swiss came close to scoring again, but goalkeeper Andre Onana deflected Ruben Vargas’ shot wide to keep his team in the contest.
Later on Thursday, Serbia will face Brazil in the other group game.