marks to France, the country where he was born- Corriere.it

One on the ground, in pain after having just scored a goal that could have historically brought Tunisia to the round of 16. The other is still, with his hands clasped as if to apologise. These are two snapshots of the World Cup in Qatar that have already made history: Wahbi Khazristriker from Tunisia, e Breel Donald Embolo, Swiss center forward. In the history of all editions of the World Cup, it had never happened that a footballer scored a goal against his country of birth. At Qatar 2022 it happened twice, just a few days apart: the first was – precisely – Embolo, last November 24 against Cameroon (1-0 for Switzerland the final result). Yesterday, November 30, Khazri did it again in Tunisia-France (1-0 here too).

Embolo born in Yaound, capital of Cameroon which has more than one and a half million inhabitants. Six years later, Breel as a child emigrated to Switzerland, together with his mother and brother, and in 2014 (when he was 17) he obtained Swiss citizenship. Six years of life, especially his first ones, are certainly not a small thing: that’s why, at the time of the goal against his Cameroon, Embolo didn’t break down in any exultation. First he spread his arms, as if to say sorry, that’s why I’m here, then he returned towards the center of the field with his head bowed. A different story, however, that of Khazri, a French but naturalized Tunisian footballer. The Montpellier striker was born to a Tunisian family in Ajaccio, Corsica, and reached the Under 21 of the French national team. Then, for him, when he grew up he decided to play with Tunisia. A convinced and decisive choice, like the celebration following yesterday’s goal against his France: coast-to-coast, goal and injury. But the joy too strong. He gets up, runs towards the sector reserved for the thousands of Tunisian fans and explodes: hearts, kisses, hugs with his teammates. All useless, for. Because Australia’s victory over Denmark condemned Tunisia to elimination after the Africans toyed with the idea of ​​progressing through the group stage of a World Cup for the first time in their history.