Summary

  • Use audio icon at top of page for live commentary from Al Janoub Stadium, Qatar

  • RESULT: Switzerland 1-0 Cameroon - Breel Embolo gives Swiss lead early in second half

  • Brazil, Portugal and Uruguay set for opening fixtures on Thursday

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  1. Postpublished at 2 mins

    Switzerland 0-0 Cameroon

    An early Swiss attack sees them win a corner over on the right but that is scrambled away at the near stick.

  2. Postpublished at 1 mins

    Switzerland 0-0 Cameroon

    Cameroon’s head coach Rigobert Song is actually tied for most red cards at the World Cup as a player, Pat.

    Can you guess who he is tied with?

  3. 'A team you want to love'published at 10:01 Greenwich Mean Time 24 November 2022

    Switzerland 0-0 Cameroon

    Pat Nevin
    Former Scotland winger on BBC Radio 5 Live

    I'm really looking forward to this.

    Got a buzz when saw the Indomitable Lions coming off the coach dancing and singing. I'm biased - I've always liked Cameroon. Head coach Rigobert Song is a cool dude as well isn't he? A very intelligent, likeable man.

    They're a team you can want to love, but it doesn't win you football games. Let's see if they are likeable after this.

  4. KICK-OFFpublished at 10:01 Greenwich Mean Time 24 November 2022

    Switzerland 0-0 Cameroon

    And away we go.

  5. Postpublished at 09:59 Greenwich Mean Time 24 November 2022

    Switzerland v Cameroon (10:00 GMT)

    This is Cameroon’s eighth World Cup finals – two more than any other African country – yet only in 1990 have the Indomitable Lions roared their way beyond the group stage.

    Big chance to take a big step towards that with a victory here.

  6. Postpublished at 09:58 Greenwich Mean Time 24 November 2022

    Switzerland v Cameroon (10:00 GMT)

    Here are a few statistics to throw your way before the action gets under way on the pitch:

    • This is the first international fixture between Switzerland and Cameroon.
    • Cameroon have played more matches at the World Cup than any other African nation (23), while only Nigeria (23) have scored more goals at the tournament among African sides than Cameroon (18).
    • Switzerland have qualified for their 12th World Cup, finishing top of their group ahead of Euro 2020 winners Italy. It's their fifth in a row, setting their longest run of consecutive appearances in the tournament.
    • Cameroon have lost each of their past seven games at the World Cup. Only Mexico have ever lost more games in a row in the competition's history (9 between 1930 & 1958).
    • Switzerland are unbeaten in their opening game in each of their five appearances at the World Cup (W2 D3), since losing 5-0 against Germany in 1966.
  7. Postpublished at 09:57 Greenwich Mean Time 24 November 2022

    Switzerland v Cameroon (10:00 GMT)

    EmboloImage source, Getty Images

    Switzerland scored 15 goals in their eight World Cup qualifiers as they topped a group that included European champions Italy.

    But since then they have managed seven goals in eight matches and lost 2-0 to Ghana as they warmed up for the tournament.

    Breel Embolo is the man tasked with trying to improve their recent fortunes in front of goal against his native Cameroon.

    Monaco forward 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.

  8. Postpublished at 09:56 Greenwich Mean Time 24 November 2022

    Switzerland v Cameroon (10:00 GMT)

    The teams are out and are lining up for their national anthems.

    It's almost time.

  9. Postpublished at 09:55 Greenwich Mean Time 24 November 2022

    Switzerland v Cameroon (10:00 GMT)

    Big game this with Serbia and Brazil also lying in wait for these two teams.

    Five-time winners Brazil are the big favourites to advance from Group G, but Switzerland, who won a knockout match for the first time since 1938 at Euro 2020 - after beating France in a penalty shootout in the last 16 - will be confident of progressing as well.

    Switzerland's starting line-up is the second oldest they have named in a World Cup match.

    The line-up has an average age of 28 years and 238 days, only beaten by an average age of 28 years and 296 days in a 2-2 draw against Brazil in 1950.

    Will experience tell?

  10. Postpublished at 09:54 Greenwich Mean Time 24 November 2022

    Switzerland v Cameroon (10:00 GMT)

    One of the great things about World Cup is the rich and vibrant colours you always see around the stadiums.

    This encounter sums that up perfectly.

    fansImage source, Getty Images
    FansImage source, Getty Images
    FansImage source, Getty Images
  11. World Cup 2022 armband row: 'Two parallel universes on human rights controversies'published at 09:50 Greenwich Mean Time 24 November 2022

    Shaimaa Khalil
    BBC News in Doha

    It does feel like there are two parallel universes when it comes to the controversies around this World Cup.

    For the advocates, the activists, the European teams and especially the seven captains who had intended to wear the One Love armband, this is an LGBT and human rights issue they want to remain vocal about.

    For hosts Qatar and those spectators who've come here or who are watching around the Arab world, which has a vast Muslim majority, this is about religion, culture, the norms of the region and mostly about respect which they don't feel they're getting.

    The tension seems to be the perpetual undercurrent of the tournament so far and it's all playing out here on the world's biggest of stages.

    On Wednesday, Germany players covered their mouths during the team photograph before their World Cup opener against Japan, with manager Hansi Flick saying it was "to convey the message that Fifa is silencing" teams.

    However, the reaction to Germany's stance has had fierce and almost unanimously negative reactions around the Arab world.

    The hashtag Germany-Japan was trending in Arabic for all the wrong reasons for the German team. Many calling their 'mouth cover' stance in support of LGBT rights "insulting' and "provocative", with some asking Fifa to put more pressure on players.

    Read more., external

  12. Germany players cover mouths amid row with Fifapublished at 09:48 Greenwich Mean Time 24 November 2022

    If you missed this on Wednesday, the Germany players covered their mouths during the team photograph before their World Cup opener against Japan "to convey the message that Fifa is silencing" teams, says Hansi Flick.

    The gesture follows Fifa threatening players with a booking for wearing the OneLove armband during games in Qatar.

    The captains of seven European nations were set to wear it to promote diversity and inclusion.

    No disciplinary action will be taken against Germany.

    "It was a sign, a message that we wanted to send out. We wanted to convey the message that Fifa is silencing us," said head coach Flick after his side's 2-1 defeat.

  13. 'We want to write history'published at 09:45 Greenwich Mean Time 24 November 2022

    Switzerland v Cameroon (10:00 GMT)

    YakinImage source, Getty Images

    How about this for confidence. Switzerland boss Murat Yakin says the current national side is the "best that has ever existed" as he eyes a run to the latter stages of the World Cup.

    The Swiss have reached the last-16 stage in three of their past four appearances at the tournament but have not progressed to the quarter-finals since doing so as hosts in 1954.

    "We have improved a lot and now we want to write history," said Yakin.

    Read the rest of what he has to say in our match preview.

  14. Team newspublished at 09:43 Greenwich Mean Time 24 November 2022

    Switzerland v Cameroon (10:00 GMT)

    Switzerland team graphic

    Arsenal's in-form enforcer Granit Xhaka captains Switzerland who also field Manchester City defender Manuel Akanji and talisman Xherdan Shaqiri. Striker Breel Embolo will hope to score against the country of his birth.

    Switzerland XI: Sommer, Widner, Akanji, Elvedi, Rodriguez, Freuler, Xhaka, Shaqiri, Sow, Vargas, Embolo.

    Cameroon team graphic

    Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo leads the line for Cameroon, along with ex-Stoke City man Eric Choupo-Moting. Former Fulham midfielder Frank Zambo Anguissa is the driving force for Rigobert Song's side.

    Cameroon XI: Onana, Collins Fai, Castelleto, Nkoulou, Tolo, Anguissa, Hongla, Oum Gouet, Mbeumo, Choupo-Moting, Toko-Ekambi.

  15. Postpublished at 09:41 Greenwich Mean Time 24 November 2022

    Right time for the teams...

  16. Postpublished at 09:38 Greenwich Mean Time 24 November 2022

    Switzerland v Cameroon (10:00 GMT)

    Plenty of Premier League experience in both line-ups for this one at the Al Janoub Stadium.

    Switzerland line up as expected, with Arsenal's Granit Xhaka captaining the side and the likes of Manuel Akanji, and Xherdan Shaqiri also playing.

    While, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, once of Stoke City of course captains Cameroon, with Brentford's Bryan Mbeumo also playing along with former Fulham midfielder Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa.

  17. Good morningpublished at 09:30 Greenwich Mean Time 24 November 2022

    FansImage source, Getty Images
    FansImage source, Getty Images

    There are four more games coming your way today, including five-time winners Brazil and Euro 2016 winners Portugal.

    But first up is Switzerland v Cameroon.

    I can't wait. Looks like they can't either.