Switzerland coach Murat Yakin was impressed by his team's composed performance as they ground out a 1-0 win over Cameroon in their FIFA World Cup opener.

Switzerland coach Murat Yakin was impressed by his team's composed performance as they ground out a 1-0 win over Cameroon in their FIFA World Cup opener.
Breel Embolo, who was born in the West African country, scored the only goal when he stroked home Xherdan Shaqiri's low cross.
The 25-year-old's celebrations were understandably muted, but his goal was nevertheless vital for Switzerland, who will be aiming to at least match their quarter-final appearance at Euro 2020 last summer.
Cameroon had the upper hand in the first half but Switzerland started the second half well, with Embolo's goal coming in the 48th minute.
Switzerland coach Yakin said: "Of course, you need patience. It was a mature performance.
"Of course there is some uncertainty in a World Cup, not everything can go well from the start, but I'm happy with the possession, with how we got it converted.
"Maybe 1-0 or 2-0 is not sufficient for my taste, maybe we could have scored more goals, but all in all we had a mature performance by our team."
Asked about Embolo's reaction to scoring, Yakin said: "We know his story, his past in Cameroon, and Breel, you can be friendly up to the kick-off and then afterwards they are going to be your opponents and we need you in our team.
"You've got an opponent, of course he wants to score a goal for his team and he fulfilled his task, so we are really happy about this.
"He also had very good moments during the match, his dynamics and his movements. Breel fulfilled his task well."
Cameroon coach Rigobert Song said his team had been punished for not being clinical enough.
Karl Toko Ekambi and Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting were guilty of wasting good openings in a first half Cameroon had the better of.
"Generally in football, when you're dominating you need to hit the net," Song said.
"Yes, we had more opportunities than they did (in the first half) but we didn't have that finishing touch. That was what made the difference.
"We showed we were hungry for that win but the goal simply didn't come. We are playing high-level football here, it's no walk in the park. You can monopolise ball possession, it's taking chances that counts."
The defeat meant Cameroon have now lost eight consecutive World Cup finals matches, and face a tough route to the knockout phase with matches against Serbia and Brazil to come.
"We haven't lost hope, we have still got two games to play," former Liverpool and West Ham defender Song said.
"It's all systems go now. We have still got that faint hope. I believe the next game will be different."

Switzerland earn approval of coach Murat Yakin after 'mature' win over Cameroon

Cameroon captain Vincent Aboubakar scored a memorable late winner against Brazil.

Cameroon captain Vincent Aboubakar scored a memorable late winner against Brazil and was then dismissed for whipping his shirt off in celebration – but his goal could not prevent their World Cup exit.
On what could have been an even greater night for the African side, another shock result this time did not have the desired outcome as Switzerland's win over Serbia made Cameroon's progress impossible, irrespective of the 1-0 victory at the Lusail Stadium.
For a brief period Aboubakar's superb header in the third minute of added time had Cameroon believing in the impossible and federation president Samuel Eto'o frantically checking his phone in the VIP section for news from Stadium 974.
Aboubakar was shown a second yellow card for removing his shirt and when when the whistle sounded on Cameroon's first World Cup win in 20 years they did not have long to wait to discover their fate. Their joy was dampened after learning Serbia had not forced an equaliser.
Already-qualified Brazil had the luxury of making nine changes, including bringing in the 39-year-old Dani Alves to become his country's oldest World Cup player, but their under-strength team never fulfilled expectations.
One of those new faces Gabriel Martinelli provided the bright spark of a first half relatively low on chances with his powerful, twisting header from Fred's cross turned over early on by Devis Epassy.
The Arsenal forward's horizontal run along the edge of the penalty area in added time also forced Cameroon's second-choice goalkeeper into another fingertip save.
In between those two opportunities Cameroon's threat to Ederson's goal at the other end was limited, with Nouhou Tolo's dangerous cross repelled by the Manchester City goalkeeper, who then parried away Bryan Mbeumo's downward header.
The Brentford winger had the honour of registering the first shot on target of the tournament against the favourites.
Early in the second half Mbeumo teed up Aboubakar for an angled shot which had Ederson scrambling across his goal, but with news filtering through of Switzerland's lead over Serbia, Cameroon knew even if they were to take the lead it would not be enough to save them.
Manchester United left-back Alex Telles departed with an injury , covering his face with his shirt as he walked around the perimeter of the pitch, before Martinelli saw Epassy deny him for a third time after he cut in from the left onto his right foot.
The Cameroon goalkeeper was almost embarrassed by Eder Militao's bundled shot from the resulting corner but managed to recover and turn his fumble around his right-hand post.
Substitute Bruno Guimaraes failed to properly connect with Raphinha's cross as Brazil's second string continued to squander chances and were eventually made to pay.
Jerome Ngom Mbekeli swung over an inviting cross from the right and Aboubakar took full advantage to plant a header past Ederson.

Vincent Aboubakar scores to give Cameroon victory over Brazil

Hwang Hee-chan said team-mate Son Heung-min predicted he would fire South Korea to glory.

Hwang Hee-chan said team-mate Son Heung-min predicted he would fire South Korea to glory ahead of his dramatic injury-time winner against Portugal.
South Korea are through to the last 16 of the World Cup after they came from a goal down to secure a 2-1 win at the Education City Stadium on Friday night.
The South Korean players huddled in a nervous circle to watch the final extraordinary minutes of Uruguay's clash with Ghana unfold on mobile phones.
But after Uruguay failed to add to their two-goal advantage, South Korea celebrated taking the runner-up spot in Group H behind Portugal by virtue of scoring more goals than the South Americans.
Wolves' Hwang, who missed his country's opening two matches through injury, came on as a 66th-minute substitute before he thrashed home Son's assist following a superb dribble and pass by the Tottenham forward directly from a Portugal corner.
"Before the match Son said, 'you are going to create something today, we trust you'," said Hwang.
"When Son got the ball I was convinced that he would pass it to me. It was an excellent pass and it made my job much more easier.
"It was difficult waiting for the result of the match between Uruguay and Ghana, but we proved once again that we could make it to the knockout stage.
"As a Korean citizen I am extremely proud, and I would like to thank all the Korean supporters. I am glad I can give them this present."
Portugal, whose passage to the knockout stages had already been secured, were bidding to become the first side to win all three group games at this tournament.
But following Ricardo Horta's fifth-minute strike they were guilty of taking their foot off the accelerator.
Kim Young-gwon hauled South Korea level on 27 minutes before Hwang's last-gasp winner.
Despite the defeat, Portugal still finish top of the group to avoid a possible second-round meeting with Brazil, who look likely to win Group G.
"We lost our organisation, our focus, and Korea controlled more of the game," said Portugal head coach Fernando Santos.
"Of course our players were motivated, but we conceded a goal when they were on a counter-attack and this can happen at a major tournament.
"We are upset. We finished first of the group, but we wanted to win, and we wanted a better game in order to increase the morale of the players.
"That said, they will not be unmotivated. I trust my team, but this result serves as a warning to them."

Hwang Hee-chan credits Son Heung-min's pep talk for his World Cup winner

Diego Alonso refused to blame his Uruguay stars after they tumbled out of the World Cup.

Boss Diego Alonso refused to blame his Uruguay stars after they tumbled out of the World Cup.
Two first half goals from Giorgio de Arrascaeta, after Sergio Rochet saved Andre Ayew's penalty, looked like sending Uruguay through as Group H runners up with a 2-0 win over Ghana.
But Hwang Hee-chan's late goal gave South Korea a 2-1 victory over Portugal to secure second spot and dump Uruguay out on Friday.
Alonso said: "I don't have anything to say to my players because they broke their backs, they gave their best versions. I don't want to use excuses but everyone can see what happened in the previous matches.
"I know my players gave it all, they did their best to have a good match and today we can't say anything to our players.
"I believe in my players, they responded well, I am thankful. I deeply regret we are out of the World Cup, I truly believe in these players and what they could have achieved in this World Cup."
Former Inter Miami boss Alonso also declined to talk about his future after elimination.
"I think it's too early to talk about it (his future) let's wait for some days and we will discuss it," he said.
De Arrascaeta struck twice in six first-half minutes, heading in from close range before finishing off a flowing move with a low volley, after Ayew was denied from the spot.
The result for Uruguay was never in doubt after that but they could not find a third goal with Federico Valverde denied by Lawrence Ati-Zigi before former Liverpool and Sunderland defender Sebastian Coates poked wide late on.
Mohammed Kudus went close for Ghana, who knew a win would have sent them through, but the Black Stars are also knocked out.
Boss Otto Addo, talent coach at Borussia Dortmund, revealed he would step down having taken charge after Milovan Rajevac was sacked in January.
He said: "At the moment me and my family see our future in Germany, I always said if we qualified for the World Cup I would resign afterwards, even if we were world champions. This is my decision.
"Football is beautiful, sometimes it is ugly. It is ugly for us today, there is no human being in the world who hasn't missed a penalty.
"In the second half we had a lot of chances but we have to do better in defence, allowing two chances against these world-class strikers is two too much.
"We have to learn and I'm very sure we will learn from this in the future."

Uruguay coach still 'believes in his players' despite World Cup exit

Hwang Hee-chan scored a dramatic stoppage-time winner to beat Portugal and secure South Korea's place in the knockout stages of the World Cup.

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Hwang Hee-chan scored a dramatic stoppage-time winner to beat Portugal and secure South Korea's place in the knockout stages of the World Cup.
South Korea looked to be heading home from Qatar before Son Heung-min broke free following a Portugal corner and played a perfect pass for Hwang to slot home in the 91st minute for a 2-1 victory.
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Following Uruguay's 2-0 win against Ghana, South Korea join the Portuguese – who had already booked their place in the last 16 after winning their opening two fixtures – in the next round having scored more goals than the South Americans.
South Korea, whose manager Paulo Bento watched from the stands following his outburst at English referee Anthony Taylor in their defeat by Ghana, knew only a win would do.
But Bento's men were left facing a mountain to climb when Portugal took the lead with just four minutes and 52 seconds on the clock.
Pepe's long ball over the top was expertly controlled by Manchester United defender Diogo Dalot, who put it on a plate for Ricardo Horta to fire in from close range.
Portugal were bidding to become the first side to win all three group games at this tournament, but following their early strike they were guilty of taking their foot off the accelerator.
After 17 minutes, South Korea had the ball in Portugal's net – only for Kim Jin-su's rebounded effort to be chalked off for offside – but 10 minutes later, they were on level terms.
Cristiano Ronaldo turned his back on a South Korea corner. The ball struck the Portugal skipper on the shoulder, and fell into the path of Kim Young-gwon, who lashed home.
In response, the impressive Dalot tested goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu from long range, while at the other end, Son's effort went straight down the throat of Diogo Costa.
Just before half-time, Kim was called into action again as he palmed away Vitinha's fizzing effort. Ronaldo – one goal shy of equalling Eusebio's nine World Cup strikes for Portugal – was unable to convert the follow-up header.
That would prove to be Ronaldo’s final major contribution of the night after he was withdrawn on the hour mark, with Portugal boss Fernando Santos keeping one eye on the round of 16.
With Uruguay two goals up against Ghana in Group H's other fixture, South Korea's chances of avoiding a third successive group-stage exit remained alive.
Son's deflected strike was comfortable for Costa before the Portugal stopper palmed away Hwang In-beom's 20-yard blast.
As the second half wore on, a jaded South Korea ran out of ideas, and ran out of steam with Portugal on course to see out the contest.
But Min's brilliant run, Hwang's fine finish, and Uruguay's failure to score a third sees South Korea progress in the most explosive of fashions.
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