Switzerland will begin their 2022 FIFA World Cup campaign this Thursday when they face Cameroon at the Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah.
Venue: Al Janoub Stadium (Al Wakrah)
Key Statistics
Switzerland sailed through qualifying without losing a single game.
The Red Crosses failed to score in three of their last six games.
Switzerland won their only previous meeting with African opposition at the World Cup – a 2-0 success over Togo in 2006.
Cameroon have won just one of their last six games (D2, L3).
They have lost their last seven World Cup matches, just two short of Mexico’s record of nine consecutive defeats.
Head to head
This is the first-ever meeting between both sides.
Latest performances in all competitions
Switzerland: L-W-W-W-L
Cameroon: D-D-L-L-W
Switzerland
Switzerland will look to begin their World Cup campaign with a bang when they face African heavyweights Cameroon on Thursday for their first meeting in history.
The Red Crosses are playing in their fifth consecutive FIFA World Cup in Qatar and will be looking to replicate their success in the qualifiers round here. Murat Yakin’s Swiss side made light work of their qualifiers, going unbeaten in the group and securing safe passage to the finals ahead of European champions Italy.
That run of form in the qualifiers is a clear sign of their credentials, particularly as they conceded just two goals in the process, which was the joint-fewest in the European section of World Cup qualification.
They continued their immense form during the latest international break, winning each of their last three UEFA Nations League matches. However, ahead of this game, they fell to defeat in a warm-up clash against Ghana last week.
But they are bound to be confident after progressing from the groups in their last two World Cup appearances and beating France en route to the quarter-finals of UEFA Euro 2020.
Possible Switzerland starting line-up
Yann Sommer, Silvan Widmer, Fabian Schär, Manuel Akanji, Ricardo Rodriguez, Remo Freuler, Granit Xhaka, Xherdan Shaqiri, Djibril Sow, Ruben Vargas, Breel Embolo.
Injured: None
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Cameroon
Cameroon come to Qatar as one of the most successful African teams on the World stage.
The Indomitable Lions have a remarkable history in this tournament and are the first African team to qualify past the group stages in the World Cup.
They will undoubtedly provide stern opposition in a tough-looking Group G as they attempt to qualify for their first knockout stages since 1990.
But unlike their opponents, they went through a nail-biting playoff with Algeria to secure their final place. They will be desperate for smoother sailing in the group stages but go into this tie in poor shape, having been held to disappointing draws against Panama and Jamaica in pre-tournament warm-up matches.
They have also lost their last seven World Cup final games and are just two defeats short of Mexico’s all-time record of nine consecutive losses. But under manager Rigobert Song, who appeared in four World Cups as a player for Cameroon, the African side will feel confident of getting a good result from their opening group game.
Possible Cameroon starting line-up
Andre Onana, Collins Fai, Jean-Charles Castelletto, Nicolas N’Koulou, Nouhou Tolo, Andre Zambo Anguissa, Samuel Oum Gouet, Bryan Mbeumo, Martin Hongla, Nicolas Moumi Ngamaleu, Vincent Aboubakar.
Injured: None
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Odds
| Switzerland to win | Draw | Cameroon to win | |
| Odds | 1.72 | 3.40 | 5.50 |
| Probability (%) | 55 | 28 | 17 |
Prediction
Switzerland 2-1 Cameroon
Live Stream
For details, FIFA Qatar World Cup 2022 – TV Broadcast / Live Stream
