IN THE OPENING GAME OF THE WORLD CUP, EMBOLO LIFTS THE SWISS TO VICTORY OVER CAMEROON

The Swiss won their first game of the World Cup on Thursday, defeating Cameroon 1-0 thanks to a goal from Breel Embolo. Switzerland secured a vital three points in a group that includes tournament favorites Brazil and Serbia as Embolo struck three minutes into the second half at Al Janoub Stadium. There has been no victory for Cameroon in its last eight World Cup matches, going all the way back to 2002. Before kick-off, Cameroun's Roger Milla was given a special award one last time. This is a reminder of past glory for the country which has won just one match since advancing 32 years ago to the quarterfinals of the World Cup.

In place of usual captain Vincent Aboubakar, the Cameroonian coach Rigobert Song, who played at four World Cups in his career, chose the in-form Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting to lead the attack instead of the 42-year-old Milla as skipper. Cameroon will regret that it didn't make more of a first half that they controlled as all five of the African teams failed to progress beyond the group stage in 2018, but they made an interesting start to the competition in Qatar. After a brilliant ball through from Martin Hongla, Bryan Mbeumo fired a shot at Yann Sommer before Karl Toko Ekambi smashed the rebound into the top corner of the net.

In the second half, Sommer got down low to save a shot from Choupo-Moting after the player pinched the ball away from Manuel Akanji, although a questionable foul was given against the Bayern Munich player. There was a crucial challenge from Silvan Widmer that prevented Toko Ekambi from turning in a cross from Collins Fai, and Sommer also managed to push away a weak effort from Hong. The first half ended with Akanji dragging a corner wide as Cameroon switched off, but they couldn't escape after being caught napping again in the second half.

The ball was worked out wide on the right by Granit Xhaka and Remo Freuler to Xherdan Shaqiri, whose low cross into the area was swept home by an unmarked Embolo. After getting past a couple of defenders in the box, Choupo-Moting managed to weave his way around a couple of them, but couldn't beat Sommer from such a tight angle. A brilliant save by Andre Onana kept Cameroon in the game when he denied Ruben Vargas who had found himself completely free in an almost carbon copy of Embolo's strike. It was only a desperate block from Haris Seferovic that stopped him from scoring a late second goal.

By Rashmi Goel