Cameroon struck in harm time to down Brazil whereas Switzerland put three previous a leaky Serbian defence to win their final recreation of Group G. The outcomes had no actual bearing on the group although as Brazil and Switzerland each certified for the Spherical-of-16. That is the third World Cup in a row the place the Swiss have moved previous the group stage.
Serbia needed to win to qualify for the knockouts whereas Switzerland may afford to have a look at the Brazil-Cameroon consequence with hopes of shifting on to the subsequent spherical.
A narrative in 4 components.
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The Swiss drew first blood when the evergreen Xherdan Shaqiri struck Serbian hopes with a robust drive within the twentieth minute. Regardless of being a objective down, Serbia may take hope from a manic World Cup group stage that has seen giants fall and outcomes oscillate throughout the board.
Due to this fact it was no shock when the Serbian struck twice in fast succession. The primary objective got here from Aleksandar Mitrovic, who linked with a header that he promptly deposited into the far backside nook.
Equaliser within the bag, Serbia have been as soon as once more let in to the match, in addition to the group, when the Swiss’ lackadaisical defending led to a different Serbian alternative.
This time, it was Shaqiri, who misplaced possession within the midfield. Dusan Tadic, an Ajax mainstay who’s all the time good for a defence-splitting go, managed to slide a ball in. The Swiss defence ought to have simply cleared the ball away however as an alternative gave away possession to Dusan Vlahovic.
After a five-goal fest, the Swiss are heading to the Knockout Phases! 🇨🇭@adidasfootball | #FIFAWorldCup
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The Juventus striker took a left footed shot and slid the ball previous keeper Gregor Kobel. All of a sudden Serbia went from being final in Group G to being second.
However that state of affairs was quick lived because the Swiss struck once more, this time by way of Breel Embolo, who had a easy tap-in to attain proper as the primary half was about to finish, because of a Silvan Widmer go. That is Embolo’s fourth objective in 5 successive video games for his nation.
The breathless first half was the polar reverse of the opposite recreation in Group G. Brazil, beginning a second string aspect, after having secured their qualification to the subsequent spherical, have been in a goalless state of affairs in opposition to Cameroon going into the break. A win for Cameroon would complicate issues within the group, very similar to it has for nearly all different group stage matches.
The Swiss started their second half like they ended the primary. Shaqiri was on the coronary heart of this transfer as nicely. The winger acquired a go again from Embolo after which provided a fragile dink over the Serbian defence.
That ball excessive was met by Ruben Vargas who matched Shaqiri’s piece of talent with a deft no-look heel go that reached Remo Frueler, who transformed to provide Switzerland their lead, in addition to the second-place place on the group again.
The Serbians have been now a two-goal mountain to climb. And it was a mountain they’d fail to scale. In direction of the tip of the match, the Serbians slowed down, the third objective having knocked the wind off their sails.
On the opposite finish of Doha, Cameroon struck in harm time. An Ngom Mbekeli cross from the proper was met by Vincent Aboubakar, who ghosted between the Brazil centre-backs and was rewarded for his stealth. Though they misplaced, Brazil nonetheless managed to take the highest spot in Group G because of their superior objective distinction.
A World Cup stuffed with a bunch stage of nice depth lastly wound all the way down to an in depth. Brazil and Switzerland grew to become the ultimate groups to undergo to the Knockout levels. Cameroon went down with a win. Serbia, touted to go far within the event, fell on the first hurdle.