Uruguay vs South Korea LIVE World Cup 2022: Team news and line-ups as Son Heung-min and Darwin Nunez start

Uruguay play South Korea in Group H of the World Cup in Qatar.

Two-time winners of the tournament, La Celeste are seen as dark horses this year, with Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez in fine form, while veteran forwards Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani will look for one last hurrah.

Federico Valverde might be more important than anybody, and the Real Madrid midfielder will be key to dictating the tempo against South Korea. Son Heung-min is hoping to play despite suffering a face fracture in the build-up for the tournament while playing for Tottenham in the Champions League, meaning he will wear a face mask - at least during the group stage.

Both sides will be confident they can not only qualify but finish top of a wide-open group that also includes Ghana and Portugal.

Follow all the action with our live blog below, after the conclusion of Switzerland vs Cameroon

Uruguay vs South Korea latest updates

• Uruguay face South Korea in Group H at the Qatar World Cup with La Celeste considered dark horses to go all the way

• Darwin Nunez and Luis Suarez start up top for La Celeste, with Federico Valverde in midfield

• Son Heung-min is fit to start for South Korea despite suffering face fracture three weeks ago

• Switzerland defeat Cameroon 1-0 in early match

Uruguay 0 - 0 Korea Republic

Portugal vs Ghana as Ronaldo starts

15:25 , Jamie Braidwood

After Uruguay and South Korea’s goalless draw, we now head over to the other game in Group H between Portugal and Ghana.

A certain Cristiano Ronaldo is starting... Follow it here with our live blog!

Portugal vs Ghana LIVE: World Cup latest updates

Uruguay flatter to deceive in World Cup stalemate with South Korea

15:09 , Jamie Braidwood

If this Uruguay 2.0 are to scale the heights of the heroes of old then they will have to find a performance far more worthy of them after opening their World Cup with a hugely disappointing goalless stalemate with South Korea.

Diego Alonso’s new La Celeste have tantalised many in the build-up to this tournament with their blend of wise old heads and virulent new blood combining to great effect over the last 12 months, but neither element could make the key contribution here as a resolute Korea more than earned a point to start their own journey in Qatar on a positive note.

Report by Ben ‘0-0 magnet’ Burrows at the Education City Stadium

Uruguay flatter to deceive in World Cup stalemate with South Korea

Uruguay vs South Korea player ratings as Valverde impresses

15:02 , Jamie Braidwood

Uruguay vs South Korea player ratings

Valverde - 8: Great run deep, touch and strike at goal. A rocket in the 90th minute that rattled the woodwork and a warrior out of possession, putting his body on the line.

Nunez - 6: Missed a chance lunging as ball came across goal. Brilliant industry to work back and counter and then surged clear in second half to set up a big chance.

Son - 7: Brilliant feet to sit Caceres down, was on the periphery of the game for long spells, but made a stunning long ball in behind to try catch Uruguay out after sitting in a low block. Almost found the bottom corner with a crisp strike that curled wide.

See the rest, here:

Uruguay vs South Korea player ratings

FULL TIME: Uruguay 0-0 South Korea

15:00 , Jamie Braidwood

That will be the story of the game, Uruguay going close but just not doing enough to earn the win. Both Godin and Valverde struck the woodwork but Uruguay were disappointing overall and did not create enough chances against a stubborn and organised South Korean team.

South Korea were probably the better team in the first half but could not take their chances. Son Heung-min was quiet, though, and they were very passive in the second half.

FULL TIME: Uruguay 0-0 South Korea

14:56 , Jamie Braidwood

And that is that.

We have our fourth 0-0 of the World Cup - and for a match where we had so much hope!

But Valverde came this close to snatching the win at the end.

Uruguay 0-0 South Korea

14:54 , Jamie Braidwood

90+7 mins: Uruguay thought they were in but Guillermo Varela has been pulled back for a foul...

And that could be that.

Uruguay 0-0 South Korea

14:53 , Jamie Braidwood

90+6 mins: And it’s straight into the arms of the goalkeeper...

Uruguay 0-0 South Korea

14:52 , Jamie Braidwood

90+5 mins: Corner for Uruguay...

Uruguay 0-0 South Korea

14:51 , Jamie Braidwood

90+3 mins: It’s wild from Hwang In-beom, who has been really good tonight, as the midfielder slashes a shot wide.

Uruguay 0-0 South Korea

14:49 , Jamie Braidwood

90+1 mins: we’re into seven minutes of added time, and suddenly both teams have found some energy.

Uruguay 0-0 South Korea

14:48 , Jamie Braidwood

90 mins: CLOSE!

What is the Uruguay goalkeeper doing?! He plays it straight to Son on the edge of the box, with the foward taking a touch as defenders closed in. His takes aim with his left foot and is not far away, with Rochet diving to his left. Almost.

Uruguay 0-0 South Korea

14:47 , Jamie Braidwood

89 mins: OFF THE BAR!

WOW - what an effort from Valverde! From 25 yards out, the Real Madrid midfielder lets fly with a stunning effort that rattles the cross bar, almost finding the top corner. So, so unlucky.

Uruguay 0-0 South Korea

14:45 , Jamie Braidwood

87 mins: Time is running out for Uruguay - although they are now they only team who are pressing for a breakthrough goal. Bentancur swings a cross into Cavini. He has to stretch to reach it, but can’t direct it on target.

Uruguay 0-0 South Korea

14:41 , Jamie Braidwood

84 mins: One of those days? Nunez now pops up on the right and cuts inside. He tries to find Bentancur with a reverse pass but overhits it, and it trickles out of play.

Uruguay 0-0 South Korea

14:39 , Jamie Braidwood

81 mins: CLOSE! Almost a moment of magic from Nunez. He knew what he wanted to do after receiving the ball from Cavani in the left channel. Despite having an option outside of him, Nunez cut in and went for the far post. It shot past, with Cavini almost getting his head on it after continuing his run into the box.

Uruguay 0-0 South Korea

14:37 , Jamie Braidwood

80 mins: The Independent’s sports editor Ben Burrows has been at two of the three goalless draws at the World Cup so far. His match today was Uruguay vs South Korea, and we are now heading for a third...

Uruguay 0-0 South Korea

14:35 , Jamie Braidwood

77 mins: Almost an instant impact from Cho Gue-sung! He brings down a pass and then flashes a half-volley wide from 30 yards.

Now a double change for Uruguay. Vina and De La Cruz come on.

Uruguay 0-0 South Korea

14:33 , Jamie Braidwood

76 mins: Smart defending from Bentancur to read Son’s cross and cut it out at the front post. Then, Nunez is unable to control a long pass forward.

Uruguay 0-0 South Korea

14:32 , Jamie Braidwood

74 mins: A triple change for South Korea. Among that, Kim Seung-gyu is off and will be left with the memory of his first-half miss. Cho Gue-sung will now lead the line.

Uruguay 0-0 South Korea

14:29 , Jamie Braidwood

71 mins: And then almost a chance for South Korea! Son just punts a pass forward with his left foot and with Kim Seung-gyu chasing, Rochet has to head clear from outside of his box.

Uruguay 0-0 South Korea

14:27 , Jamie Braidwood

68 mins: Oooh. Almost from Cavini. His first touch buys him a step of space, but his shot is well blocked by the wall of red shirts that quickly swarmed around him.

Uruguay 0-0 South Korea

14:25 , Jamie Braidwood

67 mins: Dear, dear, dear. Bentancur floats a pass out of play and as time goes on I am feeling less and less optimistic about a breakthrough.

Some attacking quality, please!

Uruguay 0-0 South Korea

14:22 , Jamie Braidwood

63 mins: Chance! Out of nowhere too, that’s what Nunez gives you. The ball breaks to Godin and he spots Nunez on the left. He benefits from Kim Min-jae slipping, and Nunez is able to carry towards goal on the angle. Suarez was at the back post but Nunez was unable to pick him out and South Korea clear.

Now here comes Cavani. As expected, he replaces Suarez.

Kim Min-jae has stayed down, too, after an awkward landing.

Uruguay 0-0 South Korea

14:17 , Jamie Braidwood

60 mins: This second half has been very low on quality. Edinson Cavini is coming on - it has to be for Suarez.

Uruguay 0-0 South Korea

14:15 , Jamie Braidwood

57 mins: Son is back up. Caceres is booked. Danny Murphy is complaining about football boots without laces.

Uruguay 0-0 South Korea

14:14 , Jamie Braidwood

55 mins: Suarez looks short once again as he struggles to keep a ball in play on the byline - how much longer will he stay on the pitch?

Caceres then crunches into Son, who stays down and looks to be in pain. Worrying moment for South Korea.

Uruguay 0-0 South Korea

14:11 , Jamie Braidwood

52 mins: Penalty? Nope. From a South Korea corner, Kim Jin-su goes down under the challenge of Bentancur as he looked to beat Rochet to the ball. Not enough in that.

Uruguay 0-0 South Korea

14:08 , Jamie Braidwood

50 mins: Great defending! It looked set for Son. After a nice South Korea move, he takes a touch and sets to shoot but Gimenez recovers with a sliding block. Brilliant - Gimenez had actually gone to ground but managed to extend to tackle Son, after he had initially been sold the dummy.

Uruguay 0-0 South Korea

14:05 , Jamie Braidwood

47 mins: Son looks to go on a mazy run down the left but is guided out of play by Godin and Caseres.

Uruguay 0-0 South Korea

14:02 , Jamie Braidwood

Back underway!

HALF TIME: Uruguay 0-0 South Korea

14:02 , Jamie Braidwood

World Cup federations have been told by Fifa that the rainbow flag is to be “welcomed” at stadiums for the next round of games, after a series of incidents that culminated in the team captains of seven Uefa federations not wearing the OneLove armband.

The colours have become one of the tension points of the tournament, as so many players, officials and fans want to make a gesture of solidarity towards the LGBTQ+ community over Qatar’s laws and culture around homosexuality.

Some supporters and media have had items of clothing with rainbow flags confiscated, most notably with security even instructing that bucket hats should be removed. The Independent has been told of cases where Welsh fans were simply wearing the colours of the country – red, yellow, white and green – only to be told to take them off.

A number of federations have raised this with Fifa, given they were told beforehand that it would be an open World Cup, and the global governing body has told federations it has been given assurances by the tournament’s Safety and Security Operations Committee that rainbow items will no longer be confiscated. It has gone so far that missives have been passed to security at stadiums, to prevent what were described as “localised incidents”.

Exclusive by Miguel Delaney

Fifa says rainbow colours allowed at Qatar World Cup despite ‘localised incidents’

HALF TIME: Uruguay 0-0 South Korea

13:52 , Jamie Braidwood

Danny Murphy, meanwhile, is causing a scene with some out-of-the-box but ultimately incorrect thinking.

“I’ve always found it strange how they don’t count hitting the post or the bar as on target,” he said after Godin’s header.

Wrong.

HALF TIME: Uruguay 0-0 South Korea

13:46 , Jamie Braidwood

We’re goalless - not sure how - but that was an interesting opening half between Uruguay and South Korea. Both teams have had their moments and spells of good play. Godin came closest for Uruguay with a header that struck the post, while Hwang Ui-jo wasted a glorious chance at the other end of the pitch.

Uruguay 0-0 South Korea

13:46 , Jamie Braidwood

45 mins: We’re into one minute of added time. I’m in shock.

Olivera meanwhile can’t keep a cross in play as another Uruguay attack fizzles out.

Uruguay 0-0 South Korea

13:44 , Jamie Braidwood

44 mins: OFF THE POST! Almost a towering header from the veteran Diego Godin! From the corner, he rises before crashing a header against the post! It comes back into play but South Korea scramble clear! Closest we’ve come.

Uruguay 0-0 South Korea

13:43 , Jamie Braidwood

42 mins: After absorbing a South Korea attack, Uruguay spring forward through Pellistri. He looks for Suarez in the middle and almost finds him, but Jung Woo-young cuts it out for a corner.

Uruguay 0-0 South Korea

13:40 , Jamie Braidwood

39 mins: Luis Suarez has barely had a touch for Uruguay - and South Korea are finding some joy when they get runners around Godin. Despite the energy of Nunez and Valverde, Uruguay are looking quite vulnerable in places.

Uruguay 0-0 South Korea

13:38 , Jamie Braidwood

37 mins: That sums up Uruguay at the moment. Gimenez rolls the ball straight out of play and Uruguay are losing patience as they try to break South Korea down.

Uruguay 0-0 South Korea

13:35 , Jamie Braidwood

33 mins: HUGE CHANCE! South Korea should be ahead. It’s a lovely move and they cut Uruguay open - but when the ball was squared to Hwang Ui-jo he can’t keep his shot down! It’s lifted over the bar from in front of the goal and that’s the best chance of the game so far.

Uruguay 0-0 South Korea

13:34 , Jamie Braidwood

32 mins: After a slight lull, South Korea switch it wide to Kim Jin-su and his delivery is again pretty dangerous. It’s cleared by Bentancur.

Uruguay 0-0 South Korea

13:29 , Jamie Braidwood

27 mins: Big chance! What is Olivera doing?! Uruguay break forward this time, blue shirts flooding forward. Olivera has a simple pass to Nunez on his left but overhits it out for a goalkick! Nunez was shaping up to shoot and is disgusted with the pass.

Uruguay 0-0 South Korea

13:27 , Jamie Braidwood

26 mins: Ah, just like that! South Korea spring forward as a ball is lobbed forward to Son. He cuts inside Caceres and then outside Valverde, before Olivera clears his shot with his head.

Uruguay 0-0 South Korea

13:26 , Jamie Braidwood

24 mins: After South Korea’s good start it feels like Uruguay have settled and are taking control of this. That may suit South Korea though as their shape looks compact and they will be able to threaten through Son on the break.

Uruguay 0-0 South Korea

13:22 , Jamie Braidwood

21 mins: Chance! There’s that diagonal again! Gimenez picks out Pellistri this time, who brings it down well and cuts into the box. Nunez is free in the middle but can’t get on the end of the cross in front of the posts! South Korea clear.

Uruguay 0-0 South Korea

13:20 , Jamie Braidwood

19 mins: Chance! Gimenez spots the diagonal run of Valverde and picks him out with a lovely ball. Valverde brings it down with a smart touch and then looks to shoot with his left. The volley takes a slight deflection - missed by the referee - and goes over.

Uruguay 0-0 South Korea

13:18 , Jamie Braidwood

17 mins: Kim Jin-su gets on the end of a nice switch of play from South Korea. The left back is able to dig a cross out from the byline, and Rochet has to help it over the crossbar.

Uruguay 0-0 South Korea

13:15 , Jamie Braidwood

14 mins: Uruguay get on the ball and enjoy a sustained spell of possession for the first time. But South Korea’s defensive shape is compact and solid and they win it back as Bentancur tries to roam into the final third.

Uruguay 0-0 South Korea

13:13 , Jamie Braidwood

12 mins; Until now, at least. Son sets off down the left, with a pack of Uruguay defenders immediately closing him down. Caceres leads with a shoulder as Son goes down, but the play goes on.

Uruguay 0-0 South Korea

13:12 , Jamie Braidwood

10 mins: A lot of South Korea’s attacks have come down the right so far, targetting Uruguay’s Olivera. Son, who is on the left, hasn’t seen much of the ball so far.

Uruguay 0-0 South Korea

13:10 , Jamie Braidwood

8 mins: Great tempo to this already. Kim Moon-hwan whips a dangerous ball in that Uruguay clear, setting Nunez galloping down the left.

Uruguay 0-0 South Korea

13:07 , Jamie Braidwood

6 mins: There’s been a lot of talk about Uruguay’s midfield three of Bentancur, Vecino and Valvarde but South Korea are currently dominating the middle of the pitch. Darwin Nunez, meanwhile, has started out on the left.

Uruguay 0-0 South Korea

13:04 , Jamie Braidwood

3 mins: You can know when Son touches the ball without looking up at the screen, given the audible screams that ring around the stadium every time he touches the ball.

South Korea look confident. This bright red kit looks brilliant too.

KICK OFF! Uruguay 0-0 South Korea

13:00 , Jamie Braidwood

1 min: Fast start! South Korea go direct early on, winning a corner as Olivera slides in. Goalkeeper Rochet collects the cross - before Uruguay go straight on the attack. Nunez is almost played in but South Korea can tidy up.

Uruguay vs South Korea

12:59 , Jamie Braidwood

Hopefully this is a cracker. Son meets Diego Godin for the handshake. The veteran defender is back at his fourth World Cup, at the age of 36.

Luis Suarez could also make history with a goal today, and equal the record for Uruguay if he scores his eighth of the World Cup.

Kick-off is next!

Uruguay vs South Korea

12:56 , Jamie Braidwood

The teams are out and it’s time for the anthems! Uruguay’s is so, so good. A lovely musical intro and then a huge powerful finish. Sublime. Fiery.

Son Heung-min is out, face mask and all, and has his hand on his heart. Lovely stuff.

Son Heung-min: South Korea’s greatest football export still leading the way despite injury concern

12:50 , Jamie Braidwood

Son Heung-min’s early-season goal drought saw questions being raised about the pre-World Cup form of South Korea’s Tottenham Hotspur forward, who is fit and firing following a facial fracture.

Son, South Korea’s attacking talisman, has undergone surgery to stabilise a fracture around his left eye that he suffered playing for Tottenham against Olympique de Marseille, that had led to his participation at the World Cup being in doubt.

Yet for months it was his finishing that had fans worried.

After finishing as the Premier League’s joint-top scorer last season, the 30-year-old went eight games in all competitions without a goal to prompt concerns that his golden touch was deserting him with time ticking down to kick-off in Qatar.

South Korea’s greatest football export Son Heung-min still on top despite injury woe

Uruguay perfect World Cup dark horses with Federico Valverde at the heart of their regeneration

12:40 , Jamie Braidwood

“The original World Cup winners, and indeed hosts, Uruguay have been part of international folklore for as long as that version of the game has been around.

“Unlike some others from that part of the world, though, the story of La Celeste has not always been one of romance and achievement, of being giants and being admired, their names woven into World Cup fabric as often as they would have liked.

“The tenth-biggest nation in South America by population went from mythical to missing on the global stage in the space of less than three decades.

“Between 1978 and 1998 they qualified only twice and tasted victory only once. It has been a long road back for the Sky Blue side, but a golden generation of players was overseen and developed by the legendary Oscar Tabarez and now, under the guidance of Diego Alonso, they are showing that a generational team doesn’t have to be restricted to a single generation.

“Uruguay are very much a force to reckoned with in Qatar at the World Cup, a team with players who know their roles, proven goalscorers and committed faces aplenty and, crucially, a handful of elite talents playing near the top of their game.”

Uruguay preview by Karl Matchett

Uruguay vs South Korea: Team news and line-ups

12:30 , Jamie Braidwood

Son Heung-min starts for South Korea in their World Cup opener against Uruguay. Son is expected to play in a protective mask after sustaining multiple fractures around his left eye three weeks ago.

Uruguay line up with Darwin Nunez and Luis Suarez in attack, along with Manchester United’s Facundo Pellistr. Real Madrid’s Federico Valverde joins Matias Vecino and Rodrigo Bentancur in the midfield.

Uruguay XI: Rochet, Caceres, Godin, Gimenez, Olivera, Valverde, Vecino, Bentancur, Pellistri, Suarez, Nunez

South Korea XI: Seung-Gyu Kim, Moon-Hwan Kim, Min-Jae Kim, Young-Gwon Kim, Jin-Su Kim, In-Beom Hwang, Jung, Na, Jae-Sung Lee, Heung-Min Son, Eui-Jo Hwang

Uruguay vs South Korea

12:25 , Jamie Braidwood

Next up: Uruguay play South Korea in Group H of the World Cup in Qatar.

Two-time winners of the tournament, La Celeste are seen as dark horses this year, with Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez in fine form, while veteran forwards Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani will look for one last hurrah.

Federico Valverde might be more important than anybody, and the Real Madrid midfielder will be key to dictating the tempo against South Korea. Son Heung-min is hoping to play despite suffering a face fracture in the build-up for the tournament while playing for Tottenham in the Champions League, meaning he will wear a face mask - at least during the group stage.

Both sides will be confident they can not only qualify but finish top of a wide-open group that also includes Ghana and Portugal.

Join our coverage of that match, here:

Uruguay vs South Korea LIVE: World Cup 2022 latest score and updates

Breel Embolo delivers Switzerland perfect World Cup start to punish wasteful Cameroon

12:16 , Jamie Braidwood

The muted goal celebration is not an especially common sight sight in international football, but with an ever-more globalised world comes an ever-more globalised World Cup, and so too the conflicting emotions of Switzerland’s match-winner Breel Embolo.

Born in Yaoundé before emigrating to France when he was five-years-old, Embolo did not celebrate the crisp, guided finish that helped overcome Cameroon in this tight Group G opener, instead putting his hands up in apology. A few of his team-mates ran to celebrate the assist with Xherdan Shaqiri instead.

They understand, after all. Many of Murat Yakin’s squad are dual nationals, with the Balkan-origin contingent relishing a rematch of their fiery 2018 meeting with Serbia in the final round of group games. That could be crucial to their hopes of reaching the last-16, with Brazil now next up, but to take three points here was a promising start.

By Mark Critchley at the Al Janoub Stadium

Breel Embolo hands Switzerland perfect World Cup start to punish wasteful Cameroon

Switzerland should emulate Arsenal to unlock Granit Xhaka after laboured Cameroon win

12:05 , Jamie Braidwood

“In some ways, Switzerland’s World Cup got off to the perfect start with a 1-0 win over Cameroon. Going into their second game against Brazil, the Swiss have three points on the board and don’t require a shock victory over the pre-tournament favourites to keep their knockout hopes on course.

“Yet it was a laboured win, with Cameroon the better side in the first half and unlucky not to be ahead by the break, before their European opponents scored through Cameroon-born Breel Embolo early in the second period and subsequently suffocated the life out of the game.

“No-one could legitimately argue the Swiss attack was firing on all cylinders but the answer to unlock their potential is already in their ranks and goes by the name of Granit Xhaka. The captain won his 107th cap, and has been a key cog since making his debut in 2011, as proven by playing every minute of their recent Nations League campaign, but it’s time to change his role in the side to turn them into legitimate contenders.”

FULL TIME! Switzerland 1-0 Cameroon

11:56 , Jamie Braidwood

But it counts for nothing! Switzerland do just enough to beat Cameroon and open Group G with a tight victory. Breel Embolo is the match-winner, scoring against the country of his birth shortly after half-time and choosing not to celebrate out of respect. After a lively first half, Switzerland were able to see out the win with little fuss. They will be full of confidence ahead of their second match of the group against Brazil, who face Serbia later on.

Switzerland 1-0 Cameroon

11:56 , Jamie Braidwood

90+5 mins: Block! Cameroon hang on, just! Seferovic looked to be through on goal after a Cameroon slip. He cut inside and had the goal gaping, but Castelletto threw himself at the shot.

Switzerland 1-0 Cameroon

11:55 , Jamie Braidwood

90+4 mins: A late flurry from Cameroon comes to nothing, as Sommer can easily gather a cross from deep as Moumi Ngamaleu threw himself at the ball.

Switzerland 1-0 Cameroon

11:53 , Jamie Braidwood

90+2 mins: N’Koulou races back to sweep up a Switzerland attack, but then slips on the byline to concede a cheap corner. Switzerland will not be rushing to take this.

Switzerland 1-0 Cameroon

11:50 , Jamie Braidwood

90 mins: Just the six minutes of added time.

Can Cameroon find a late equaliser? They have not offered much at all in this second half.

Switzerland 1-0 Cameroon

11:49 , Jamie Braidwood

88 mins: Save! Well the pace of this match has completely died, but Xhaka goes close from distance as he catches a shot sweetly. It skims off the surface but Onana handles it well.

Switzerland 1-0 Cameroon

11:44 , Jamie Braidwood

82 mins: CHANCE! Swizerland expose the space behind the Cameroon defence as Rodriguez plays in Rieder down the left. The cross towards the front post is dangerous and Seferovic is not far away, but Nicolas Nkoulou scrambles clear.

Switzerland then ask for a penalty after the ball hits Aboubakar’s hand - but it was clearly accidental.

Switzerland 1-0 Cameroon

11:41 , Jamie Braidwood

80 mins: Cameroon right back Fai swings a cross over from the wing - it misses everyone but gives Yann Sommer a brief scare. We’ve all seen crosses like that drift into the far corner, and this wasn’t too far away.

Switzerland 1-0 Cameroon

11:39 , Jamie Braidwood

78 mins: The changes have done little to lift either team. The past five minutes or so have been a complete non-event.

Switzerland 1-0 Cameroon

11:34 , Jamie Braidwood

74 mins: And here come the Cameroon changes. The striker Vincent Aboubakar, who was a surprise omission from the starting team, replaces Chupo-Moting and immediately takes the armband. Georges-Kevin N’Koudou is on too.

Switzerland 1-0 Cameroon

11:31 , Jamie Braidwood

70 mins: This time Shaqiri’s cross drifts long. Here comes a triple Swiss change, and Shaqiri is among those to be removed as well as Embolo. Interesting decision, that.

Frei, Okafor and Seferovic all come on.

Switzerland 1-0 Cameroon

11:29 , Jamie Braidwood

67’ - DOUBLE CHANCE!

Switzerland are denied a second! They break into space once more - with Shaqiri cutting a dangerous ball back to Vargas. He looks certain to score - but Onana produces a great stop to his left.

Then, from the corner, Shaqiri whips in a lethal cross. Embolo is waiting for the tap-in, but Anguissa stretches at the last moment to clear! Great defending, although it was almost an own goal.

Switzerland 1-0 Cameroon

11:26 , Jamie Braidwood

66 mins: Chance! Cameroon’s best moment of the half. Mbeumo floats a cross in from a set-piece and Anguissa rises well to meet it. The header is straigth at Sommer.

Switzerland 1-0 Cameroon

11:23 , Jamie Braidwood

61 mins: Switzerland fly forward again - so much space for them now to attack into. Vargas is forced wide by the Cameroon defence, as he slashes wide. Have Cameroon gambled too much, too soon though. That’s the question.

Switzerland 1-0 Cameroon

11:20 , Jamie Braidwood

59 mins: There’s lots of space appearing for Switzerland now. Cameroon have to be careful. Shaqiri plays through Vargas, who had Xhaka free in the middle. However Vargas was offside, which was a relief for the winger as his cross was ballooned over the bar.

Switzerland 1-0 Cameroon

11:17 , Jamie Braidwood

57 mins: SAVE! Great work by Chupo-Moting, who beats Akanji around the outside to break into the box. Sommer makes the save at his near post, but Anguissa is furious after demanding the cut-back.

Switzerland 1-0 Cameroon

11:16 , Jamie Braidwood

54 mins: Almost another lovely move from Switzerland. They again manage to break the lines as Akanji splits Cameroon with a ball through to Shaqiri, who then couldn’t squeeze through to Vargas.

Switzerland 1-0 Cameroon

11:13 , Jamie Braidwood

52 mins: Now, can Cameroon respond. They were probably the better team in the first half but were caught cold from the restart. They barely had a touch from kick-off before Onana had to pick the ball out of his net.

GOAL! Switzerland 1-0 Cameroon (EMBOLO 48’)

11:08 , Jamie Braidwood

BREAKTHROUGH! And what a lovely goal this is from Switzerland - scored by Embolo against the country of his birth!

Switzerland work it through the lines, with Xhaka playing into Freuler, who finds Shaqiri on the wing.

Shaqiri fires it across first time and Embolo is there to fire into the open net. The striker doesn’t celebrate out of respect, which is interesting.

The defending from Cameroon at the front post was quite poor- Embolo was left in acres of space - but the play leading to the chance was wonderful from the Swiss.

Switzerland 0-0 Cameroon

11:07 , Jamie Braidwood

47 mins: As they did in the first half, Switzerland start off on the front foot. Cameroon drop into their defensive shape.

Switzerland 0-0 Cameroon

11:05 , Jamie Braidwood

Back underway! No changes at the break.

HALF TIME! Switzerland 0-0 Cameroon

11:03 , Jamie Braidwood

Here’s that miss from Akanji. Put your head through it, Manuel!

HALF TIME! Switzerland 0-0 Cameroon

10:57 , Jamie Braidwood

This from the The Independent’s Mark Critchley, who is reporting on this morning’s game.

“Currently on a mean average of 3.2 goals per game I've attended, and a median average of 0.”

We’ve had three 0-0s so far - and this encounter did have the feeling of a stalemate before kick-off.

It’s been fun, though, but do either team have the clinical finisher to make the difference in the second half?

HALF TIME! Switzerland 0-0 Cameroon

10:51 , Jamie Braidwood

It’s goalless - but it really shouldn’t be. Cameroon have been the better team and have created two or three good opportunities, particularly on the breakaway. Cameroon then took control of possession but Switzerland had the best chance of the half on the stroke of the break. Manuel Akanji passed up a sitter from less than six yards. Miss of the World Cup so far, for me.

Switzerland 0-0 Cameroon

10:48 , Jamie Braidwood

46+2 mins: CHANCE! How is this still goalless?!

From the corner, Akanji is wide open and has a free header from maybe four yards out - but he just doesn’t get enough on the header and is skims wide!

A golden opportunity - wasted.

Switzerland 0-0 Cameroon

10:46 , Jamie Braidwood

45 mins: Widmer hangs a cross up but Embolo can’t direct it on target. Oum instead hacks out for a Switzerland corner. There will be two minutes added on...

Switzerland 0-0 Cameroon

10:42 , Jamie Braidwood

41 mins: Block! Relief for Elvedi. The Swiss centre-back clears a cross straight into Chupo-Moting’s feet. The Bayern Munich striker looks to line up a shot, but Elvedi gets his body in the way.

Switzerland 0-0 Cameroon

10:41 , Jamie Braidwood

39 mins: Big tackle! Embolo plays a smart one-two and cuts into the Cameroon box at the angle - the shot across goal looked on but Jean-Charles Castelletto recovers to make an important challenge on the stretch. Switzerland head wide from the corner.

Switzerland 0-0 Cameroon

10:39 , Jamie Braidwood

38 mins: This has been fun - Cameroon are on top, but can they get the breakthrough before half-time?

Switzerland 0-0 Cameroon

10:36 , Jamie Braidwood

35 mins: Chance! Excellent play from Cameroon! Chupo-Moting controls a lovely pass on the half-volley, playing in Fai on the right wing. Toko Ekambi looks to be free at the back post and gets ahead of Widmer, with Fai’s cross asking to be tapped in. But Widmer, the Swiss right back, makes a brilliant recovery and beats Toko Ekambi to the cross. Crucial defending.

Switzerland 0-0 Cameroon

10:35 , Jamie Braidwood

33 mins: Better from Switzerland! They are able to play through the Cameroon press and drive into space through Sow - the cross from the right is cleared by Cameroon before Shaqiri whips in a cross from the left that evades everyone. They need to get more bodies into the box.

Switzerland 0-0 Cameroon

10:31 , Jamie Braidwood

30 mins: Nice play! Lovely move from Cameroon as Choupo-Moting and Mbeumo exchange a one-two on the outside of the box. Sommer has to deal with Hongola’s shot from a tight angle and makes a mess of it. Widmer has to get back and hack clear.

Switzerland 0-0 Cameroon

10:28 , Jamie Braidwood

25 mins: Collins Fai sees his name in lights as a Cameroon attack is pushed wide - but the right back slices a shot from range well wide. Cameroon are starting to see a greater share of the ball, now.

Switzerland 0-0 Cameroon

10:26 , Jamie Braidwood

23 mins: Nice break from Cameroon but nothing comes of it. Zambo- Anguissa played it into Mbeumo out wide, with the Brentford forward dancing inside, evading challenges, before setting it back to Zambo- Anguissa. Switzerland get men back to slow the attack down, and are then able to clear the corner.

Switzerland 0-0 Cameroon

10:23 , Jamie Braidwood

21 mins: There is some frustration growing in the Switzerland team - they cannot find a way through the Cameroon defence. It’s been a good start from the African side.

Switzerland 0-0 Cameroon

10:19 , Jamie Braidwood

19 mins: Cameroon’s defensive shape is looking pretty solid. Xhaka looks to cut through it with an angled cross towards Widmer, but it just floats out of play.

Switzerland 0-0 Cameroon

10:18 , Jamie Braidwood

17 mins: We seem to be having a 0-0 a day at the World Cup and I was fearing that today’s opening game was the leading candidate. However there’s been lots of action so far with Cameroon threatening on the break and Switzerland moving the ball well as they control possession.

Switzerland 0-0 Cameroon

10:16 , Jamie Braidwood

15 mins: CHANCE! Cameroon cut through Switzerland, as  Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting flicks himself into space and suddenly is through on goal. Choupo-Moting’s finish is tame and easily saved by Sommer, although Akanji did get back to put the pressure on. An offside flag goes up to suggest it may have been disallowed anyway.

Switzerland 0-0 Cameroon

10:14 , Jamie Braidwood

13 mins: Chance! Decent play from Switzerland. First, Vargas slides a ball across goal, which was begging for a touch from Embolo. Then, Shaqiri plays a neat pass inside to Embolo, who was through on goal for an instant. He’s offside, though.

Click here to read the full blog on The Independent's website