Switzerland vs Cameroon LIVE World Cup 2022: Team news and line-ups as Granit Xhaka and Bryan Mbeumo start

Jamie Braidwood
·21-min read

Switzerland play Cameroon in Group G of the World Cup in Qatar.

Granit Xhaka will hope to carry over his form for Arsenal to Qatar, while the Indomitable Lions will lean on Vincent Aboubakar and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting up top.

The Swiss came unstuck against Sweden in the last 16 at Russia 2018 and will be confident they can advance to at least that stage, likely competing against Serbia with the tournament’s favourites Brazil tipped to win the group.

While Cameroon are back at the World Cup for the first time since 2014 when they were knocked out at the group stage and they have not gone further than this since 1990 when they made it to the quarter-finals.

Follow all the action with our live blog below

Switzerland vs Cameroon latest updates

Switzerland 1 - 0 Cameroon

FULL TIME! Switzerland 1-0 Cameroon

11:56 , Jamie Braidwood

But it counts for nothing! Switzerland do just enough to beat Cameroon and open Group G with a tight victory. Breel Embolo is the match-winner, scoring against the country of his birth shortly after half-time and choosing not to celebrate out of respect. After a lively first half, Switzerland were able to see out the win with little fuss. They will be full of confidence ahead of their second match of the group against Brazil, who face Serbia later on.

Switzerland 1-0 Cameroon

11:56 , Jamie Braidwood

90+5 mins: Block! Cameroon hang on, just! Seferovic looked to be through on goal after a Cameroon slip. He cut inside and had the goal gaping, but Castelletto threw himself at the shot.

Switzerland 1-0 Cameroon

11:55 , Jamie Braidwood

90+4 mins: A late flurry from Cameroon comes to nothing, as Sommer can easily gather a cross from deep as Moumi Ngamaleu threw himself at the ball.

Switzerland 1-0 Cameroon

11:53 , Jamie Braidwood

90+2 mins: N’Koulou races back to sweep up a Switzerland attack, but then slips on the byline to concede a cheap corner. Switzerland will not be rushing to take this.

Switzerland 1-0 Cameroon

11:50 , Jamie Braidwood

90 mins: Just the six minutes of added time.

Can Cameroon find a late equaliser? They have not offered much at all in this second half.

Switzerland 1-0 Cameroon

11:49 , Jamie Braidwood

88 mins: Save! Well the pace of this match has completely died, but Xhaka goes close from distance as he catches a shot sweetly. It skims off the surface but Onana handles it well.

Switzerland 1-0 Cameroon

11:44 , Jamie Braidwood

82 mins: CHANCE! Swizerland expose the space behind the Cameroon defence as Rodriguez plays in Rieder down the left. The cross towards the front post is dangerous and Seferovic is not far away, but Nicolas Nkoulou scrambles clear.

Switzerland then ask for a penalty after the ball hits Aboubakar’s hand - but it was clearly accidental.

Switzerland 1-0 Cameroon

11:41 , Jamie Braidwood

80 mins: Cameroon right back Fai swings a cross over from the wing - it misses everyone but gives Yann Sommer a brief scare. We’ve all seen crosses like that drift into the far corner, and this wasn’t too far away.

Switzerland 1-0 Cameroon

11:39 , Jamie Braidwood

78 mins: The changes have done little to lift either team. The past five minutes or so have been a complete non-event.

Switzerland 1-0 Cameroon

11:34 , Jamie Braidwood

74 mins: And here come the Cameroon changes. The striker Vincent Aboubakar, who was a surprise omission from the starting team, replaces Chupo-Moting and immediately takes the armband. Georges-Kevin N’Koudou is on too.

Switzerland 1-0 Cameroon

11:31 , Jamie Braidwood

70 mins: This time Shaqiri’s cross drifts long. Here comes a triple Swiss change, and Shaqiri is among those to be removed as well as Embolo. Interesting decision, that.

Frei, Okafor and Seferovic all come on.

Switzerland 1-0 Cameroon

11:29 , Jamie Braidwood

67’ - DOUBLE CHANCE!

Switzerland are denied a second! They break into space once more - with Shaqiri cutting a dangerous ball back to Vargas. He looks certain to score - but Onana produces a great stop to his left.

Then, from the corner, Shaqiri whips in a lethal cross. Embolo is waiting for the tap-in, but Anguissa stretches at the last moment to clear! Great defending, although it was almost an own goal.

Switzerland 1-0 Cameroon

11:26 , Jamie Braidwood

66 mins: Chance! Cameroon’s best moment of the half. Mbeumo floats a cross in from a set-piece and Anguissa rises well to meet it. The header is straigth at Sommer.

Switzerland 1-0 Cameroon

11:23 , Jamie Braidwood

61 mins: Switzerland fly forward again - so much space for them now to attack into. Vargas is forced wide by the Cameroon defence, as he slashes wide. Have Cameroon gambled too much, too soon though. That’s the question.

Switzerland 1-0 Cameroon

11:20 , Jamie Braidwood

59 mins: There’s lots of space appearing for Switzerland now. Cameroon have to be careful. Shaqiri plays through Vargas, who had Xhaka free in the middle. However Vargas was offside, which was a relief for the winger as his cross was ballooned over the bar.

Switzerland 1-0 Cameroon

11:17 , Jamie Braidwood

57 mins: SAVE! Great work by Chupo-Moting, who beats Akanji around the outside to break into the box. Sommer makes the save at his near post, but Anguissa is furious after demanding the cut-back.

Switzerland 1-0 Cameroon

11:16 , Jamie Braidwood

54 mins: Almost another lovely move from Switzerland. They again manage to break the lines as Akanji splits Cameroon with a ball through to Shaqiri, who then couldn’t squeeze through to Vargas.

Switzerland 1-0 Cameroon

11:13 , Jamie Braidwood

52 mins: Now, can Cameroon respond. They were probably the better team in the first half but were caught cold from the restart. They barely had a touch from kick-off before Onana had to pick the ball out of his net.

GOAL! Switzerland 1-0 Cameroon (EMBOLO 48’)

11:08 , Jamie Braidwood

BREAKTHROUGH! And what a lovely goal this is from Switzerland - scored by Embolo against the country of his birth!

Switzerland work it through the lines, with Xhaka playing into Freuler, who finds Shaqiri on the wing.

Shaqiri fires it across first time and Embolo is there to fire into the open net. The striker doesn’t celebrate out of respect, which is interesting.

The defending from Cameroon at the front post was quite poor- Embolo was left in acres of space - but the play leading to the chance was wonderful from the Swiss.

Switzerland 0-0 Cameroon

11:07 , Jamie Braidwood

47 mins: As they did in the first half, Switzerland start off on the front foot. Cameroon drop into their defensive shape.

Switzerland 0-0 Cameroon

11:05 , Jamie Braidwood

Back underway! No changes at the break.

HALF TIME! Switzerland 0-0 Cameroon

11:03 , Jamie Braidwood

Here’s that miss from Akanji. Put your head through it, Manuel!

HALF TIME! Switzerland 0-0 Cameroon

10:57 , Jamie Braidwood

This from the The Independent’s Mark Critchley, who is reporting on this morning’s game.

“Currently on a mean average of 3.2 goals per game I've attended, and a median average of 0.”

We’ve had three 0-0s so far - and this encounter did have the feeling of a stalemate before kick-off.

It’s been fun, though, but do either team have the clinical finisher to make the difference in the second half?

HALF TIME! Switzerland 0-0 Cameroon

10:51 , Jamie Braidwood

It’s goalless - but it really shouldn’t be. Cameroon have been the better team and have created two or three good opportunities, particularly on the breakaway. Cameroon then took control of possession but Switzerland had the best chance of the half on the stroke of the break. Manuel Akanji passed up a sitter from less than six yards. Miss of the World Cup so far, for me.

Switzerland 0-0 Cameroon

10:48 , Jamie Braidwood

46+2 mins: CHANCE! How is this still goalless?!

From the corner, Akanji is wide open and has a free header from maybe four yards out - but he just doesn’t get enough on the header and is skims wide!

A golden opportunity - wasted.

Switzerland 0-0 Cameroon

10:46 , Jamie Braidwood

45 mins: Widmer hangs a cross up but Embolo can’t direct it on target. Oum instead hacks out for a Switzerland corner. There will be two minutes added on...

Switzerland 0-0 Cameroon

10:42 , Jamie Braidwood

41 mins: Block! Relief for Elvedi. The Swiss centre-back clears a cross straight into Chupo-Moting’s feet. The Bayern Munich striker looks to line up a shot, but Elvedi gets his body in the way.

Switzerland 0-0 Cameroon

10:41 , Jamie Braidwood

39 mins: Big tackle! Embolo plays a smart one-two and cuts into the Cameroon box at the angle - the shot across goal looked on but Jean-Charles Castelletto recovers to make an important challenge on the stretch. Switzerland head wide from the corner.

Switzerland 0-0 Cameroon

10:39 , Jamie Braidwood

38 mins: This has been fun - Cameroon are on top, but can they get the breakthrough before half-time?

(Getty Images)
(Getty Images)
(Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

Switzerland 0-0 Cameroon

10:36 , Jamie Braidwood

35 mins: Chance! Excellent play from Cameroon! Chupo-Moting controls a lovely pass on the half-volley, playing in Fai on the right wing. Toko Ekambi looks to be free at the back post and gets ahead of Widmer, with Fai’s cross asking to be tapped in. But Widmer, the Swiss right back, makes a brilliant recovery and beats Toko Ekambi to the cross. Crucial defending.

Switzerland 0-0 Cameroon

10:35 , Jamie Braidwood

33 mins: Better from Switzerland! They are able to play through the Cameroon press and drive into space through Sow - the cross from the right is cleared by Cameroon before Shaqiri whips in a cross from the left that evades everyone. They need to get more bodies into the box.

Switzerland 0-0 Cameroon

10:31 , Jamie Braidwood

30 mins: Nice play! Lovely move from Cameroon as Choupo-Moting and Mbeumo exchange a one-two on the outside of the box. Sommer has to deal with Hongola’s shot from a tight angle and makes a mess of it. Widmer has to get back and hack clear.

Switzerland 0-0 Cameroon

10:28 , Jamie Braidwood

25 mins: Collins Fai sees his name in lights as a Cameroon attack is pushed wide - but the right back slices a shot from range well wide. Cameroon are starting to see a greater share of the ball, now.

Switzerland 0-0 Cameroon

10:26 , Jamie Braidwood

23 mins: Nice break from Cameroon but nothing comes of it. Zambo- Anguissa played it into Mbeumo out wide, with the Brentford forward dancing inside, evading challenges, before setting it back to Zambo- Anguissa. Switzerland get men back to slow the attack down, and are then able to clear the corner.

Switzerland 0-0 Cameroon

10:23 , Jamie Braidwood

21 mins: There is some frustration growing in the Switzerland team - they cannot find a way through the Cameroon defence. It’s been a good start from the African side.

Switzerland 0-0 Cameroon

10:19 , Jamie Braidwood

19 mins: Cameroon’s defensive shape is looking pretty solid. Xhaka looks to cut through it with an angled cross towards Widmer, but it just floats out of play.

Switzerland 0-0 Cameroon

10:18 , Jamie Braidwood

17 mins: We seem to be having a 0-0 a day at the World Cup and I was fearing that today’s opening game was the leading candidate. However there’s been lots of action so far with Cameroon threatening on the break and Switzerland moving the ball well as they control possession.

Switzerland 0-0 Cameroon

10:16 , Jamie Braidwood

15 mins: CHANCE! Cameroon cut through Switzerland, as  Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting flicks himself into space and suddenly is through on goal. Choupo-Moting’s finish is tame and easily saved by Sommer, although Akanji did get back to put the pressure on. An offside flag goes up to suggest it may have been disallowed anyway.

Switzerland 0-0 Cameroon

10:14 , Jamie Braidwood

13 mins: Chance! Decent play from Switzerland. First, Vargas slides a ball across goal, which was begging for a touch from Embolo. Then, Shaqiri plays a neat pass inside to Embolo, who was through on goal for an instant. He’s offside, though.

Switzerland 0-0 Cameroon

10:13 , Jamie Braidwood

12 mins: Classic. Xhaka takes aim from range but blasts over. The big question is, can the midfielder replicate his Arsenal form for his country?

Switzerland 0-0 Cameroon

10:12 , Jamie Braidwood

10 mins: CHANCE! Cameroon should be 1-0 up! Switzerland are sliced open through with a simple ball through the middle. Mbeumo takes the shot first time, which is parried away by Sommer. It drops to Karl Toko Ekambi, but he fires over from inside the box!

Switzerland 0-0 Cameroon

10:09 , Jamie Braidwood

7 mins: Shaqiri is able to turn and run after receiving the ball in a pocket of space. Wimmer provided an option out wide but Cameroon are able to get out to stop the cross.

Switzerland 0-0 Cameroon

10:07 , Jamie Braidwood

5 mins: Cameroon win a free kick wide on the left, their first opportunity to threaten Switzerland. Mbeumo’s cross is headed clear by Xhaka.

Switzerland 0-0 Cameroon

10:06 , Jamie Braidwood

4 mins: Embolo is seeing a lot of the ball early on, too, and is dropping deep receive posession. Cameroon aren’t sure how to deal with it.

Switzerland 0-0 Cameroon

10:04 , Jamie Braidwood

3 mins: Switzerland start on the front foot, seeing plenty of the ball in the Cameroon half in the opening stages. Shaqiri, who starts on the right, sees a cross blocked as he looked to cut in on his left foot.

Switzerland 0-0 Cameroon

10:03 , Jamie Braidwood

1 min: Switzerland win an early corner, taken by Shaqiri. It’s hacked clear by Cameroon at the front post.

KICK-OFF! Switzerland 0-0 Cameroon

10:01 , Jamie Braidwood

We have a huge on-the-pitch shadow at the Al Janoub Stadium. Classic World Cup.

Switzerland vs Cameroon

09:59 , Jamie Braidwood

Here are the anthems - Switzerland’s is lovely and gentle, Cameroon’s powerful and shouty. Good stuff all around.

Kick-off next!

Switzerland vs Cameroon

09:57 , Jamie Braidwood

Lovely scenes before kick-off as Cameroon legend Roger Milla receives recognition from Fifa for his iconic goals in the 1990 World Cup, including in the famous win against Argentina. Can Cameroon take inspiration?

(AFP via Getty Images)
(AFP via Getty Images)

Switzerland vs Cameroon

09:52 , Jamie Braidwood

Switzerland striker Breel Embolo will start against his native Cameroon today.

Embolo, who was born in Cameroon’s capital Yaounde, lived in France and later relocated to Switzerland, is playing in his second World Cup, having helped the Swiss reach the round of 16 at the 2018 tournament.

(Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

Switzerland vs Cameroon

09:45 , Jamie Braidwood

Switzerland midfielder Granit Xhaka can swing from the sublime to the ridiculous in a matter of moments, but on his day he is the driving force of his team’s midfield and has featured in every one of their games at the last two World Cup finals.

Xhaka has great technical ability, but wears his heart on his sleeve, which at times has left his club coaches frustrated by petulant dismissals at key moments and earned him something of an unwanted reputation.

But at national team level, the Arsenal midfielder is more measured and played every minute of Switzerland’s recent Nations League A campaign, taking his tally of international caps to 106 since his debut in 2011.

A focused and engaged Xhaka is vital for Switzerland as he brings balance and stability as a shield for the back four. He is able to drive them forward out of defence and is a scorer of some spectacular goals, though in truth he probably should net more.

He is a straight-talker and there were rumours of a rift with his coach Murat Yakin in June, where the midfielder’s comments about the team’s tactics were perceived to be a criticism of his boss.

Steely midfielder Granit Xhaka adds maturity to drive forward Switzerland hopes

Switzerland vs Cameroon

09:30 , Jamie Braidwood

When Andre Onana plays in goal for Cameroon at the World Cup it will be exactly one year since his return from a drugs ban that he is still struggling to bounce back from.

The 26-year-old spent nine months on the sidelines after banned diuretic furosemide was found in his urine.

He took his wife’s prescription medicine, after looking for an aspirin to quell a headache, and his explanation was accepted on appeal when the ban was cut from a year to nine months.

“A stupid mistake,” he has said, although adding: “There is little humanity in football. We are obviously not allowed to make mistakes and are treated like robots. A hard lesson.”

The incident brought an abrupt halt in January 2021 to a career that was blooming at Ajax, where he was fast establishing himself as one of the best keepers in Europe.

One year on from drugs ban Cameroon goalkeeper Andre Onana back in the spotlight

Switzerland vs Cameroon: Group G preview

09:20 , Jamie Braidwood

Five-time winners Brazil have not won the World Cup for 20 years - since the generation led by Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho triumphed in Japan & South Korea - and the Selecao were knocked out in the quarter-finals last time out by Belgium in 2018. They are the top seeds in Group G, alongside Switzerland, Cameroon and Serbia.

Switzerland and Serbia both finished top of their respective qualifying groups against the odds - beating Italy and Portugal respectively to top spot - while Cameroon beat Algeria in a play-off via a dramatic Karl Toko Ekambi winner in the last minute of extra-time.

At the 2018 World Cup, Switzerland finished second in their group - when they also faced Brazil and Serbia - before losing 1-0 to Sweden in the last-16. Serbia came third in the group after a pivotal 2-1 loss to Switzerland, while Cameroon did not qualify for Russia but were also drawn with Brazil in 2014, where they lost all three matches.

Here is everything you need to know about Group G:

Everything you need to know about World Cup 2022 Group G

Switzerland vs Cameroon

09:15 , Jamie Braidwood

Switzerland coach Murat Yakin believes his squad is well equipped to make history as they prepare for their opening match of the 2022 World Cup against Cameroon in Group G on Thursday.

The Swiss have not reached the quarter-finals since they hosted the tournament in 1954 but, having emerged undefeated through qualifying, Yakin has urged his side to make the most of what he considers an unprecedented opportunity.

“I think we are the best Switzerland national team that has ever existed – we have fantastic players who play abroad and I am convinced we will perform our best World Cup ever,” said Yakin.

“I think we have a great team with a great team spirit that has been built for the last couple of years. Football-wise we have improved a lot, and now we want to write history.”

‘Best Switzerland national team that has ever existed’ ready for World Cup

Switzerland vs Cameroon: Confirmed line-ups

09:11 , Jamie Braidwood

If the sight of Xherdan Shaqiri in a Switzerland shirt doesn’t get you excited for a group stage match, then you’re doing the World Cup wrong.

The ‘powercube’ always seems to deliver for Switzerland on the big stage - he’s scored at the past two World Cups and Euros for Switzerland.

(Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

Switzerland vs Cameroon: Confirmed line-ups

09:06 , Jamie Braidwood

Switzerland: Sommer; Widmer, Elvedi, Akanji, Rodriguez; Freuler, Xhaka; Sow, Vargas, Shaqiri; Embolo

Cameroon: Onana; Nkoulou, Fai, Castelletto, Tolo; Anguissa, Gouet, Hongla; Toko Ekambi, Choupo-Moting, Mbeumo

Switzerland vs Cameroon

08:55 , Jamie Braidwood

Switzerland are a side which has consistently punched above their weight at major tournaments, having progressed from their group at their last four major tournaments.

While they previously fell at the first hurdle come the knockout-stages, last year’s European Championships were a different story as they stunned world champions France in the last-16, progressing on penalties after a thrilling 3-3 draw in which Granit Xhaka was the star of the show.

Last time out on the world stage, the Swiss progressed to the last-16 but came a cropper to Sweden by a solitary goal. Similarly in 2014, a last-minute Angel Di Maria beauty resulted in a heartbreaking defeat to Argentina in the first knockout round.

There will be a familiar feel in Qatar for the Swiss, with two of their group opponents from 2018 - Brazil and Serbia - matched up with them again, with the addition of Cameroon this time round.

Switzerland World Cup 2022 squad guide, fixtures and ones to watch

Switzerland vs Cameroon

08:50 , Jamie Braidwood

Cameroon were minutes away from their World Cup dreams evaporating as they contested their play-off with Algeria earlier this year. But with Karl Toko Ekambi’s dramatic last-minute winner, the Indomitable Lions nicked a place in Qatar courtesy of away goals.

Captained by ex-Porto striker Vincent Aboubakar, Cameroon finished third in their home Africa Cup of Nations at the start of 2022, missing out on a place in the final on penalties to Egypt - another African team not present in Qatar.

While they did not qualify for Russia four years ago, they were grouped with Brazil back in 2014, losing 4-1 in their final game having lost all three encounters - the other two to Mexico and Croatia.

They also disappointed in South Africa in 2010 but armed this year with some powerful forwards and one of the world’s most promising young goalkeepers in ex-Ajax player and current Inter Milan shotstopper Andre Onana, Cameroon could surprise many in the winter World Cup.

Cameroon World Cup squad guide, fixtures and more for 2022 tournament

Switzerland vs Cameroon: Odds and prediction

08:45 , Jamie Braidwood

Switzerland 3/4

Draw 12/5

Cameroon 21/5

Prediction

Switzerland have the edge on paper but Cameroon are a useful outfit who can put up a competitive fight in Group G, especially given their pedigree in attack and their outstanding goalkeeper. Switzerland 1-1 Cameroon.

Switzerland vs Cameroon

08:40 , Jamie Braidwood

The Group G match kicks off at 10am GMT at the Al-Janoub Stadium in Al-Wakrah.

What TV channel is it on and how can I watch online?

It will be shown live on ITV 1, with coverage starting at 9am, as well as online on ITV X.

Switzerland vs Cameroon: Early team news

08:35 , Jamie Braidwood

Switzerland have named four goalkeeprs in their squad due to fitness concerns over Yann Sommer.

Kevin Mbabu and Steven Zuber are injured and are not involved in the World Cup.

Cameroon are expected to have a full squad to choose from, with capain Vincent Aboubakar set to lead the line.

Predicted line-ups

Switzerland: Kobel, Widmer, Akanji, Elvedi, Rodriguez, Freuler, Xhaka, Shaqiri, Sow, Vargas, Embolo.

Cameroon: Onana, Fai, N’Koulou, Castelleto, Tolo, Anguissa, Ntcham, Mbeumo, Choupo-Moting, Ekambi, Aboubakar.

Good morning

08:30 , Jamie Braidwood

Hello and welcome to day five of the World Cup, which kicks off this morning with Switzerland vs Cameroon.

Granit Xhaka will hope to carry over his form for Arsenal to Qatar, while the Indomitable Lions will lean on Vincent Aboubakar and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting up top.

The Swiss came unstuck against Sweden in the last 16 at Russia 2018 and will be confident they can advance to at least that stage, likely competing against Serbia with the tournament’s favourites Brazil tipped to win the group.

While Cameroon are back at the World Cup for the first time since 2014 when they were knocked out at the group stage and they have not gone further than this since 1990 when they made it to the quarter-finals.

Follow all the build-up with us here.

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