The goal that made Switzerland happy, hurt Cameroon and divided the heart of Breel Embolo | CHRONICLE

To a large extent, not counting on Italy in the World Cup Qatar 2022 It is due to Switzerland. The Helvetians finished first in Group C and sent Azurri to the playoffs. The team led by Murat Yakin did not lose any game in the European qualifiers and was the team that conceded the fewest goals (2). This great campaign was ratified in his World Cup debut against Cameroon. Showing defensive solvency and being effective in attack, they defeated the African team 1-0, which added their eighth consecutive defeat in the World Cup.

The first half gave us a very even match. Switzerland was the first to take the lead, although not quite deep. It was difficult for Cameroon to establish themselves on the field, but they showed a more direct and dangerous game. Therein lies the fact that the only three shots from the goal were by the ‘Indomitable Lions’, who found Yann Sommer very solid under the three sticks.

After ten minutes, Bryan Mbeumo gave the first warning for the Africans. He won a ball behind the Swiss defense and took a shot that could not find direction. The Borussia Monchengladbach goalkeeper blocked the shot, but left the ball to Karl Toko Ekambi, who eventually flicked the ball over the goal.

After 45′ without bringing danger to the rival goal (zero shots on target), the Europeans found the goal just three minutes after starting the complement. A play that started from their own field, and that had 12 passes prior to the final shot, ended up breaking the zero. Xherdan Shaqiri appeared with all his quality to send a precise low cross from the right, which found Breel Embolo. The ‘9’ from Monaco arrived unmarked in the center of the six-yard box and did not miss the opportunity to put it away. Of course, he did not shout the goal out of respect for the country that saw him born, living a very emotional moment.

The Eto’o fan who sentenced Cameroon

Breel Embolo is part of the list of footballers who will play Qatar 2022 with a different team than the land where they were born. His case is even more special because he had to face a nation where he lived the first five years of his life in his debut, specifically in the city of Yaoundé. The separation of his parents led him to start a new life with his mother in France, but this would not be his last destination. Before long they once again packed their bags and moved to Basel, Switzerland.

He spent practically all his life in the city of Roger Federer. However, he never forgot where he came from and it even crossed his mind to defend the colors of the team that suffered him today. It was not until 2014 that he obtained a Swiss passport. He finally ended up leaning towards the red and white team, making his debut in March 2015 in a friendly against the United States.

Whenever time permits, he returns to Cameroon to visit his family, especially his father. “In that country I can disconnect, but also have a good time. Also, It is important to me not to forget the differences that exist between the two places”, he said in an interview for the Swiss newspaper Basellandschaftliche Zeitung.

His main football idols are Ronaldinho and Samuel Eto’o. The latter legend of the Cameroonian team. There is no doubt that a part of his game, especially the power in the final meters, is similar to the former figure of Real Madrid, Barcelona and Inter Milan, whom he gave a hard time today for 90 minutes.

November 24 will be a date that will remain forever etched in Embolo’s memory. In front of more than 39,000 spectators who gathered at the Al Janoub Stadium, he scored his first goal in a World Cup against the country where he was born and which is home to his entire paternal family. A note that he did not celebrate and that surely led him to have mixed feelings.