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 take a look at the Brazil-Cameroon outcome with hopes of shifting on to the following spherical.
A narrative in 4 components.
This #FIFAWorldCup Group Stage is offering drama proper till the very finish! pic.twitter.com/v7iviclvYH
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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 purpose down, Serbia may take hope from a manic World Cup group stage that has seen giants fall and outcomes oscillate throughout the board.
Subsequently it was no shock when the Serbian struck twice in fast succession. The primary purpose got here from Aleksandar Mitrovic, who related 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 at all times good for a defence-splitting move, 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. Abruptly 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 via Breel Embolo, who had a easy tap-in to attain proper as the primary half was about to finish, due to a Silvan Widmer move. That is Embolo’s fourth purpose 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 facet, after having secured their qualification to the following spherical, have been in a goalless scenario in opposition to Cameroon going into the break. A win for Cameroon would complicate issues within the group, very like 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 properly. The winger obtained a move 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 move that reached Remo Frueler, who transformed to offer 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 the direction of the tip of the match, the Serbians slowed down, the third purpose having knocked the wind off their sails.
On the opposite finish of Doha, Cameroon struck in harm time. An Ngom Mbekeli cross from the precise was met by Vincent Aboubakar, who ghosted between the Brazil centre-backs and was rewarded for his stealth. Despite the fact that they misplaced, Brazil nonetheless managed to take the highest spot in Group G due to their superior purpose distinction.
A World Cup crammed with a gaggle stage of nice depth lastly wound right down to a detailed. Brazil and Switzerland turned the ultimate groups to undergo to the Knockout levels. Cameroon went down with a win. Serbia, touted to go far within the match, fell on the first hurdle.