The first World Cup game was close to Cameroon-born Swiss striker Breel Embolo. He says: “It wasn’t the Breel game against Cameroon, but Switzerland against Cameroon.” And it was always clear to him that he would not celebrate a goal out of respect.
Difficult to celebrate: Breel Embolo after scoring for Switzerland against his native Cameroon.
Breel Embolo says on Tuesday: “Of course I want to score a goal, preferably several.” There are two days until the start of the World Cup game between the Swiss and Cameroon. At the media event in Doha, Embolo speaks in French, English, German, Basel German, but no matter what language, the game remains one for him even after the 101st question: “very special”.
Thursday is the day of this very special game for Embolo, who was born in Cameroon and grew up in Switzerland. Embolo is the only one to score and the reaction to it shows just how special this 1-0 is for him. He raises his arms apologetically, looks up at the sky, his gaze betraying a mixture of uneasiness, pride, astonishment, humility. The other players almost have to comfort him, Captain Granit Xhaka caresses his head affectionately.
These are reactions that can only be understood by those who have experienced this very special situation: a goal against their home country. On Tuesday, Embolo said: “I’m Cameroon’s biggest fan. Just not against Switzerland.” On Thursday he says: “It wasn’t the Breel game against Cameroon, but Switzerland against Cameroon.” It was always clear to him that out of respect he would not celebrate if he scored a goal.
Embolo says this encounter touched him very deeply, he was grateful and happy, especially for those around him and his family, who always had his back. “Even in the difficult phases that I had.” He is happy that his mother and father, who lives in Cameroon, were in the stadium for this emotional moment.
Fluctuations in shape, injuries – and meanwhile already 60 international matches
At the age of 6, Embolo came to Switzerland with his mother. He was soon considered a great talent, at the age of 19 he switched from FC Basel to Schalke, later fluctuations in form, injuries, in 2019 he was transferred to Mönchengladbach. And in 2021 the most difficult phase, which he would prefer never to talk about again. Embolo took part in an illegal party during a corona lockdown in Germany, fled from the police and is said to have hidden in a bathtub. The case made international headlines.
In the summer you can ask Embolo a few questions, not 101 right away, about what it all meant for him and his family. A consultant prevents the statements from being printed. What Embolo said at the time: The whole thing had allowed him to mature, he had become stronger, and now he knew who he could rely on.
Soon Embolo will be 26, he has already won 60 caps, but it is still unclear what his best position is. Embolo is strong, massive, fast, he seeks depth and feels most comfortable when he has more space than at the very front in the center. But there he plays in the national team, he has scored 6 goals for Switzerland in the last 13 months, but the balance sheet remains expandable with 12 goals in 60 international matches for an attacker.
Embolo has never been a goalgetter, but in 2022 he was also much more efficient than before at Mönchengladbach and since the summer at Monaco with 15 league goals. He has long gained international respect. This World Cup could be his stage. In the summer, Embolo asked in an interview: “Why shouldn’t Switzerland be able to become world champion?”
The Cameroonian association also tried to get Embolo
It wouldn’t have been far behind, and Embolo would never have played for Switzerland. Years ago, the Cameroonian association fought hard for him with the national coach at the time, Volker Finke. When Embolo decided in favor of Switzerland after naturalization in 2014, he said: “This is not a decision against Cameroon, but one for Switzerland.”
Embolo maintains friendly contacts with Cameroonian footballers, he played with the captain Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting at Schalke. “We could use him very well,” said the Bayern striker a few days ago. And on Thursday, Cameroon’s national coach Rigobert Song said after his team’s defeat: “Breel is like a little brother to me.”
Perhaps there is no better compliment for Breel Embolo on this day.