Swiss roll ’em
Xhaka and Co eye strong start
SWITZERLAND hope to secure early points in a tough Group G when they face Cameroon in their opener today after a year of solid performances on the European stage.
The Swiss reached the Euro 2020 quarter-finals before losing a penalty shootout to Spain. They also finished ahead of Italy in their World Cup qualifying group to avoid the playoffs.
With Arsenal’s Granit Xhaka anchoring the midfield and Xherdan Shaqiri commanding the flank, Switzerland are expected to dominate Cameroon and, at the very least, cause trouble for their other group opponents Serbia and favourites Brazil.
Xhaka has made over 100 appearances for the Swiss national team after being handed his first cap over a decade ago at the age of 18 years, eight months and eight days.
Now, with his importance at club level higher than ever, Xhaka will be hoping to lead his nation past the round of 16 for the first time since 1954 – they have crashed out in the last 16 in four of their previous five attempts.
Xhaka has played a starring role for Mikel Arteta’s side this season to help steer the Gunners to the top of the Premier League table.
The Swiss skipper has scored four goals in all competitions this season and has put in a string of consistent performances.
However, the biggest question mark comes between the posts for the Swiss.
Manager Murat Yakin has selected four goalkeepers due to injury concerns over starter Yann Sommer and back-up Jonas Omlin, calling up Salzburg’s Philipp Kohn as one of two uncapped members of the squad.
Although Cameroon are considered the least likely side in the section to reach the last 16, the attacking talent of players such as Napoli’s Andrefrank Zambo Anguissa has the potential to rattle the Swiss defence.
But Cameroon – playing in an eighth World Cup, a record number of appearances for an African nation – have failed to leave their mark at the finals since the 1990 edition of the tournament, when they dazzled by reaching the quarter-finals.
The Indomitable Lions have gone out at the group stage of all the World Cups they have played in since their 1990 exploits, winning only one of 15 matches.
Cameroon will aim to at least get another victory this time, a task that could prove difficult for a side that qualified thanks to a stoppage-time goal at the end of extra time in the second leg of their playoff tie away to Algeria.