It’s a game like any other, “like that one once morest Cameroon and that one once morest Brazil,” emphasized Xhaka. But that is of course not true. In 2018 in Kaliningrad, the two players had formed the double-headed eagle with their hands when celebrating a goal, i.e. the symbol that adorns the Albanian flag. This was a clear affront to Serbia, which to this day has not recognized the secession of Kosovo, which has a majority ethnic Albanian population.
For the two of them only the emotional outgrowth of scarred family histories: Xhaka’s father was in Serbian captivity for three years and was tortured. Relatives’ houses were burned down. The outrage followingwards was great and brought the Swiss out of their World Cup flow. FIFA fined Xhaka and Shaqiri following Switzerland’s 2-1 win.
Serbia once morest Switzerland in a promotion duel
In Group G on Friday, Serbia and Switzerland will face off head-to-head for promotion to the knockout stages. After two rounds, the Swiss are in second place in the table and go into the direct duel with an advantage.
Muzzle for Xhaka and Shaqiri
At the current World Cup, the world association has already launched an investigation once morest Serbia because a flag with the outline of Kosovo under the Serbian national colors is said to have been seen in a changing room. The thought that the match at Stadium 974 in Doha will not take place once morest a political background can therefore be safely dismissed. Even though Xhaka said, “We’re professional enough to focus on playing football.”
Friday, 8 p.m., live on ORF1
Serbia – Switzerland
Doha, Stadium 974, SR Rapallini (ARG)
Possible lineups:
Serbia: V. Milinkovic-Savic – Milenkovic, Veljkovic, Pavlovic – Zivkovic, Maksimovic, Kostic – Tadic, S. Milinkovic-Savic – Vlahovic, A. Mitrovic
Switzerland:: Sommer – Widmer, Elvedi, Akanji, Rodriguez – Freuler, Xhaka – Shaqiri, Sow, Vargas – Embolo
The captain and also Shaqiri, who is missing once morest Cameroon due to a slight thigh problem, will almost certainly play on Friday – which makes the da capo even more explosive. However, the two have been deliberately almost completely shielded from the media in the past few days. They will also not give any interviews if FIFA statutes require them to speak, i.e. immediately following the match on Friday in the mixed zone. The penalty that threatens to be accepted, according to the Swiss Association (SFV).
Switzerland with better maps
In terms of sport, Switzerland, who are second in the group with three points, have a better starting position: if you win, you’re through anyway, the “Nati” draws at the end of the group stage, Cameroon is unlikely to win once morest Brazil at the same time. For Serbia to make it to the knockout phase for the first time as an independent country within its current borders, something more has to happen.
Because even a victory over the Confederates might not be enough in the end. Cameroon would have to either lose to Brazil or win but worsen their goal difference relative to Serbia. At the moment, the African country is exactly one goal behind. For coach Dragan Stojkovic’s team, who have picked up a point so far, a big win once morest Switzerland would be useful. The direct duel once morest Cameroon ended 3:3, so would not play a role in any scenario. 2010 in South Africa and 2018 in Russia were over for Serbia following the preliminary round.
Friday, 8 p.m
Cameroon – Brazil
Lusail, Lusail Stadium, SR Elfath (USA)
Possible lineups:
Cameroon: Epassy – Fai, Castelletto, Nkoulou, Nouhou – Anguissa, Kunde, Hongla – Aboubakar, Choupo-Moting, Toko Camp
Brazil: Ederson – Dani Alves, Eder Militao, Bremer, Alex Telles – Bruno Guimaraes, Fabinho, Everton – Antony, Gabriel Jesus, Martinelli
Cameroon wants to use Minichance
In the parallel game, Cameroon needs a win once morest the Brazilians, who have already qualified, and a corresponding result in the duel between Switzerland and Serbia in order to still have a chance of progressing. Coach Rigobert Song believed that regular captain Vincent Aboubakar and Bayern forward Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting might not play together. After trailing 1:3 once morest Serbia, he let them go together in his distress – and the turnaround came to 3:3. That’s why the two might storm together from the start. And Aboubakar is likely to take over the captaincy from Choupo-Moting.
The Brazilians already have a ticket to the round of 16, national coach Tite will therefore rotate properly and probably change his entire starting XI, including substitute goalkeeper Ederson and 39-year-old Dani Alves. The “Selecao” still has to do without the still injured superstar Neymar anyway. Ideally, the attacker should be fit once more at the start of the knockout round. However, a decision should only be made following the final preliminary round of the World Cup.
Then it should also be seen when the injured full-backs Alex Sandro and Danilo will be able to play once more. “All three are in a process. Neymar and Alex Sandro in the pool, Danilo on the pitch. After the game once morest Cameroon, we will focus on that decision,” said assistant coach Cleber Xavier in Doha on Thursday. The “Selecao” hopes that all three will be available once more in the round of 16 in Qatar.
