In Group G, Switzerland and Cameroon open their 2022 World Cup against each other. Both countries are likely to battle with Serbia for second place, as Brazil are the big favourites in this pool. Switzerland is the favourite in this match in the bookmaker’s eyes. Is Cameroon capable of putting a stop to this? Read our preview with prediction, betting tip and quotes for Switzerland – Cameroon.
Switzerland World Cup 2022 – Latest Team News and Statistics
Switzerland travel with a dent in their confidence heading to Qatar, where they will take part in a World Cup for the fifth time in a row. The Swiss played another practice match against Ghana before the World Cup. There was room for that, as they do not have to be in action for the first time until the fifth day of the tournament. This dress rehearsal ended badly, as Ghana won 2-0.
Under the guidance of national coach Murat Yakin, the last three international matches prior to this were won. They beat Portugal (1-0), Spain (1-2) and the Czech Republic (2-1), not the least of countries. This sequence follows after Portugal (4-0) and Spain (0-1) were still too strong in June.
In 2018, the World Cup for Switzerland, as at the 1994, 2006 2014 World Cups, ended in the eighth finals. Four years ago, Sweden were too strong 1-0 in that first knockout match. In 2014, Switzerland lost after extension, also 1-0, to losing finalist Argentina. Switzerland’s best performance at a World Cup was reaching the quarter-finals in 1934, 1938 and 1954.
The Swiss provided a big stunt at the European Championship last summer. After finishing only third in their group, a meeting with reigning vice-champion France awaited them in the eighth final. It was a spectacular match that ended in 3-3, eventually won by Switzerland on penalties. A round later, the penalty shootout series against Spain was actually lost.
Switzerland’s selection for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar does not include any players currently active in the Eredivisie. Some familiar names are: Yann Sommer of Borussia Mönchengladbach, Granit Xhaka of Arsenal and Manuel Akanji of Manchester City.
Cameroon World Cup 2022 – Latest Team News and Statistics
Cameroon will be in Qatar for the eighth time at a World Cup. The country was missing in 2018 and was eliminated in the group stage in 2014, as in the six previous editions it participated in a World Cup.
The Indomitable Lions’ preparation towards Qatar did not go entirely smoothly. The last three internationals, for instance, included a draw against Jamaica (1-1) and losses to South Korea (1-0) and Uzbekistan (0-2). Cameroon’s last victory was over Equatorial Guinea: 2-0. Cameroon also made one more appearance before the World Cup, in a practice match against Panama. That ended in a 1-1 draw.
In early 2022, Cameroon did compete very creditably as hosts at the Africa Cup. As group winner, it then reached the semi-finals through wins over Comoros and Gambia. That game against Egypt ended scoreless, after which Cameroon took the penalties dramatically (1-3). In the consolation final against Burkina Faso, however, the penalty series was won.
In Cameroon, former Ajax player André Onana looks set to become the first goalkeeper. Other familiar names from the final selection are: Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting of Bayern Munich and André-Frank Zambo Anguissa, who was much too strong for Ajax twice with Napoli this Champions League season.
Switzerland – Cameroon previous encounters
Switzerland and Cameroon have not played an international against each other before. Although Switzerland are now at it for the fifth World Cup in a row, we had to delve pretty far into the history books at all to encounter an encounter with an African country. At the 2006 World Cup in Germany, the Swiss won their group match against Togo (0-2), which helped them reach the eighth finals aat the time.
Ahead of that World Cup, Switzerland also practised against Ivory Coast in May 2006, a game that ended in a 1-1 draw. The last match against an African country followed more than a year later. The practice match against Nigeria was then lost 0-1.
Cameroon’s last match against a European country was at the 2017 Confederations Cup, where it went down 3-1 against Germany as African champions at the time. A year earlier, it lost friendly 3-2 to France. At the 2014 World Cup, they lost handsomely to Croatia (0-4) in the group stage, while a friendly encounter with Portugal earlier that year also resulted in a thumping (5-1). The 2014 World Cup preparations find the only recent bright spot: a 2-2 draw against Germany.
Switzerland – Cameroon, World Cup 2022 Betting Tip & Odds
We end this preview with a betting tip for this duel from Group G of the 2022 World Cup. Cameroon – despite its good performance at the Africa Cup earlier this year – looks to be the weakest country in this on paper tough pool beforehand, and it also retains few good memories of encounters with European countries. A win for Cameroon has a quote of 5.50. The Swiss – who have regularly made it to the knockout stage at tournaments in recent years – are clear favourites at the bookmaker with a quote of 1.72.
We also think Switzerland will be too strong for Cameroon. We even think Switzerland will be ahead at half-time. Our betting tip is therefore: half-time/full-time – Switzerland/Switzerland. This bet has a quote of 7/4 at NetBet.
- Tip: Half-time/full-time – Switzerland/Switzerland
- Odds: 7/4 at bookmaker NetBet
- Risk assessment: Medium
- Recommended stake: 4/10