Tags:
Journalism of Courage
Dragan Stojkovic has resigned as Serbia coach following the 1-0 home defeat to Albania in World Cup qualifying on Saturday.
The Serbian soccer federation said in a statement on Sunday that he offered his resignation after the loss in Leskovac. Serbia’s Under-21 coach Zoran Mirkovic will take interim charge for Tuesday’s Group K match away to Andorra ahead of a meeting on Friday regarding further changes in the national team set-up.
The Serbian FA thanked Stojkovic “for everything he has done in the past four and a half years at the helm of the national team, primarily in qualifying for the World (Cup) and European Championship.” The 60-year-old Stojkovic was a technically gifted midfielder with an eye for goal, starring for Red Star Belgrade and winning the Champions League with Marseille in 1993 before joining Nagoya Grampus Eight in Japan.
Albania’s win moved it past Serbia into second spot and four points behind England in Group K. Striker Rey Manaj scored on the stroke of halftime and made a nationalist symbol with his hands as he celebrated.
Erling Haaland further enhanced his superstar reputation with a hat trick for Norway in a 5-0 home win against Israel while Cristiano Ronaldo drew a blank as Portugal beat Ireland 1-0 in World Cup qualifying on Saturday.
Haaland moved onto 51 Norway goals in just 46 matches, as Ronaldo failed to increase his all-time international men’s scoring record of 141.
Both players missed a penalty — Haaland even missed his retake — on a night when fluffed spot kicks seemed contagious but didn’t affect the outcomes. Spain’s Ferran Torres and Italy’s Mateo Retegui also had theirs saved.
European champion Spain beat Georgia 2-0 while Italy won 3-1 at Estonia to stop goal-hungry Norway getting too far ahead. Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma gifted a sloppy late goal to add to his blunders in recent years.
Spain tops Group E with nine points after a third straight win without conceding a goal.
Missing injured Barcelona prodigy Lamine Yamal, Spain took the lead midway through the first half thanks to Yeremy Pino.
Goal-scoring midfielder Mikel Oyarzabal made it 2-0 with a free kick midway through the second half.
Spain is three points clear of Turkey, which won 6-1 at Bulgaria with two goals from Juventus forward Kenan Yildiz.
