How Brazil (It Lost) and Switzerland (It Won) Advanced to the World Cup Knockout Round
Call it luxury or birthright, but Brazil’s fortune is such that it can rest most of its regulars and still field an absurd starting lineup that, were it a nation itself, might very well have qualified for this World Cup on its own. That group dominated possession and scoring chances in the first half against Cameroon, but it did not dominate on the scoreboard, which somehow remained at 0-0 through the first 45 minutes.
Brazil has already qualified for the knockout stage, affording it the freedom and flexibility to experiment as its manager, Tite, sees fit. So out went nine starters, and in came the likes of Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli and Antony, who probed Cameroon’s back line with searching balls and creativity. Their pace on the ball and dexterity off it frustrated the Indomitable Lions, who very much seemed to realize how difficult it is to score if they rarely have possession.
Cameroon does need to score, or else it’s eliminated. Even if it does score, and even if it does win, Cameroon might still go home, depending on the outcome of the other Group G clash, between Serbia and Switzerland. Brazil needs only a draw to win the group.
The Swiss Are In, Then Out, Then In Again
Switzerland whipsawed from elation to despair to elation in the first half of its final group game at Stadium 974 in Qatar. And Serbia’s feelings were the mirror image.
Xherdan Shaqiri of the Chicago Fire of M.L.S. gave Switzerland the lead, 1-0. Needing only a draw in all likelihood, Switzerland seemed set. Then Serbia scored two quick goals from Aleksandar Mitrovic and Dusan Vlahovic to seize the qualification spot away.
But Breel Embolo scored for Switzerland to make it 2-2, a score line that is likely to make Swiss fans happy if it holds up. — VICTOR MATHER
Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/live/2022/12/02/sports/brazil-cameroon-world-cup-scores