Brazil topped the CONMEBOL qualifying competition and were top of the FIFA rankings so they were considered hot favourites to win their sixth World Cup. One of the European teams would likely progress but Cameroon, as the lowest ranked team in the group, were capable of springing a surprise.
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2018 Tournament | World Cup Index
Switzerland
Cameroon
When Breel Embolo scored what would prove to be the winning goal in the 48th minute he failed to celebrate and briefly put his head in his hands. Embolo was born in Yaounde and although he was brought up in Basel, he received Swiss citizenship eight years ago.
Brazil
Serbia
Two second half goals scored by de Andrade Richarlison in the 62nd and 73rd minutes, the second from a stunning bicycle kick, were enough to set Brazil on their way. Brazil were every inch potential champions, playing with poise, expansiveness and flashes of effortless brilliance.
Cameroon
Serbia
A thrilling match ended with honours even after an astonishing fight back by the West African side. Castelletto gave Cameroon the lead after half-an-hour but two dramatic goals in added time at the end of the first-half put Serbia ahead. Mitrovic made it 3-1 eight minutes after the restart and that seemed to be that. In the 63rd minute, however, Aboubakar pulled one back with a sensational lob and three minutes later the splendidly named Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting levelled the scores.
Brazil
Switzerland
Brazil were not at their best against a Swiss team that was always going to be hard to beat. In the final period they threw the kitchen sink and their remaining substitutes at the Swiss and got their reward with a late goal from Casemiro. It is often said that the sign of a champion is that they get results even when playing poorly and that certainly seemed to be the case here.
Serbia
Switzerland
The first hour of the match was frantic, physical and sometimes messy. The Swiss took the lead, lost it and then won it back three minutes into the second half. In the final half-hour Switzerland drew their opponents into a gruelling slugging match which boiled over in the third minute of added time into a mass shove-in and two more yellow cards to add to the nine already issued. In the end Switzerland did what they needed to do to progress.
Cameroon
Brazil
Having already secured their place in the Knock Out phase, Brazil fielded a second-string team for this game. A pulsating match was headed for a draw when, in the second minute of added time, Ngom Mbekeli burst down the right and sent over a perfectly measured cross for Aboubakar who steered a wonderful header into the corner of the goal with Ederson rooted to the spot. Aboubakar wheeled away, ripping off his shirt in celebration. The referee had no option but to produce a second yellow card followed by the red. Not that Aboubakar seemed to care - he had scored one of the goals of his life and Cameroon had become the first African side to beat Brazil.