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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.
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.
