Switzerland will look to extend their impressive opening game record as they engage African giants, Cameroon at the Al Janoub stadium on November 24 at 10:00GMT.
Switzerland have never lost a World Cup opening match since 1966 when they lost 5-0 to Germany. The Swizz have drawn thrice and recorded two wins in their opening games including a victory over Spain in 2010.
Having missed out on a quarter-final berth in their two previous appearances in 2014 and 2018, Switzerland’s target is to go beyond the round of 16 for the first since 1954.
Cameroon head into the tournament as the African team with the most World Cup appearances as well as the first African country to reach the quarter-finals. They will be making their eighth appearance.
The Indomitable Lions failed to win the 2021 AFCON on home soil and are seeking to bounce back with a good showing at the World Cup.
FORM GUIDE (LAST FIVE MATCHES)
Switzerland have won three matches and lost two in their last five. Interestingly, they got wins over Portugal, Spain and Czech Republic. Cameroon have won just one in the last five games while succumbing to South Korea and Uzbekistan.
SWITZERLAND
17 November 2022 Ghana 2–0 Switzerland Arab Emirates Friendly
27 September 2022 Switzerland 2–1 Czech Republic Nations League
24 September 2022 Spain 1–2 Switzerland Nations League
12 June 2022 Switzerland 1–0 Portugal Nations League
9 June 2022 Switzerland 0–1 Spain Nations League
CAMEROON
18 November 2022 Cameroon 1–1 Panama Friendly
9 November 2022 Cameroon 1–1 Jamaica Friendly
27 September 2022 South Korea 1–0 Cameroon Friendly
23 September 2022 Cameroon 0–2 Uzbekistan Friendly
9 June 2022 Burundi 0–1 Cameroon 2023 AFCON qualification
HEAD TO HEAD
The two countries will be meeting for the first time.
TEAM NEWS
SWITZERLAND
Goalkeeper Yan Sommer is expected to return to the post after spending a month on the sidelines due to injury. Xherdan Shaqiri and Dennis Zakaria will spearhead a list of Premier League Stars in the Swizz line-up.
PREDICTED LINE-UP
(4-2-3-1): Sommer; Rodríguez, Akanji, Schär, Widmer; Xhaka, Freuler; Vargas, Sow, Shaqiri; Embolo
CAMEROON
Napoli midfielder Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa will be Rigobert Song’s key orchestrator if he is fit enough to start. Choupo-Moting may also start together with 2021 AFCON top scorer Vincent Aboubakar while Mbuemo and Toko-Ekambi are deployed on the flanks.
PREDICTED LINE-UP
(4-1-4-1): Onana; Ebosse, Nkoulou, Castelletto, Fai; Hongla; Anguissa Toko-Ekambi, Aboubakar, Mbeumo; Choupo-Moting.