Aleksandar Mitrovic scores first-half hat-trick as Serbia triumph in Lithuania (Video)

Having suffered a home defeat to Hungary, Serbia got back to winning ways in their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign with a 1-3 win away to Lithuania on Sunday.

It was Al-Hilal striker Aleksandar Mitrovic who scored all three goals for the Serbs, all in the first half, before Gytis Paulauskas pulled one back for the hosts just before the break.

Zidane: Odegaard needs regular football

Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane has indicated it would be in Martin Odegaard s best interest to play more regular first-team football.

The Norway international joined Madrid from Stromsgodset in January 2015 at the tender age of 16, but has been struggling to live up to the high expectations at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Odegaard, now 17, has made just one competitive appearance for Madrid and recent reports have suggested he could be on his way out in this transfer window.

Liverpool and Hamburg have been credited with an interest in signing the attacking midfielder and Zidane has hinted Madrid could allow him to leave, potentially flagging a loan for the promising teenager. 

Odegaard is at Madrid, has been doing pre-season with us and I am satisfied with…

Tottenham Hotspur in Zaha chase

Tottenham Hotspur are ready to make a £40m move for Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha, according to to the Mail Online.

However, Eagles manager Roy Hodgson is keen to receive more for the Ivory Coast international, especially given his input towards their battle for survival.

The London side have lost every game in which Zaha hasn’t played and got a much needed victory on his return to the starting line-up at the weekend a 2-0 win against fellow strugglers Huddersfield Town.

Having begun his career at Selhurst Park, Zaha is currently in his second spell with Palace after a failed stint at Manchester United.

In total, he has played two hundred and eighty times for the club, scoring thirty-eight goals while he was named their Player of the Year in…

AFC World Cup Qualifying Preview: Japan v Australia

Australia tackle Japan in Saitama on Tuesday desperate for points as they seek to secure a place at the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals.

Hosts Japan are the runaway leaders in Group B of AFC fourth-round qualifying, six points clear of second-placed Jordan and effectively need just one more point to secure a place at next year s showcase event in Brazil.

Australia are third in the pool, one point behind Jordan who they host in Melbourne on June 11 before a game against Iraq in Sydney a week later.

Those two home matches are likely to prove decisive in determining the Socceroos fate, but any points they can pick up against Japan would be a valuable bonus.

The previous meeting between the teams 12 months ago ended in a 1-1 draw in Brisbane, where a Luke Wilkshir…

Shiels given four-match touchline ban

Kilmarnock manager Kenny Shiels has been handed a four-match touchline ban by the Scottish Football Association.

The Northern Irishman was charged with bringing the game into disrepute after inferring Celtic had a massive influence on SFA disciplinary hearings during an interview in April.

He has subsequently been found guilty by Scottish football s governing body, though two games of his sanction have been suspended until the end of next season.

Kilmarnock were also found guilty over their failure to control Shiels, who has faced the SFA s wrath on several previous occasions.

The club s penalty will be decided on June 21.

The 57-year-old was last handed a four-match ban by the SFA in December 2012, after expressing doubt over the integrity of referee Euan Norris.

Czech press urge Rada to step down

The Czech press unanimously called for the head of national coach Petr Rada on Thursday, a day after he led his side to a 2-1 home defeat to neighbours Slovakia in a World Cup 2010 qualifier.

Petr Rada, you have to go, read the sport editorial in the daily newspaper Dnes, one of the country s most popular papers.

It s easier to find water in the Sahara than to find any kind of system in the play of the Czech team, it added.

Wednesday night s defeat leaves the Czech Republic in fourth place in European qualifying Group Three, five points behind group leaders Northern Ireland with only four matches remaining.

The daily Sport said a change is necessary, not only in terms of the coach, but also in the leadership of the (national football) federation. If no…

Man City in bid for Raul – report

English Premier League side Manchester City has offered Spanish champions Real Madrid 40 million euros (54 million dollars) for their striker Raul, Spanish sports daily Marca reported Friday.

Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the English side s billionaire backer, is willing to pay this amount plus any transfer fees to recruit the 31-year-old Spanish international, the newspaper added.

Raul, a five-time La Liga winner and three-time Champions League victor, has been strongly recommended to Manchester City by Brazilian star Robinho, who the English side recruited from Real in a shock move in August 2008, it added.

The player has reportedly sparked interest from other English top flight sides, including Newcastle and Liverpool.

Raul is under contract wit…

Prediction: Newcastle vs Liverpool

Best odds: 8/15

Bookmaker:

Newcastle United are set to welcome Liverpool to the St James Park on Wednesday evening, in a game that will be a part of 16th round of the 2020-21 season in the Premier League. It will also be the final game of a very controversial year for both teams.

Newcastle United

For Steve Bruce s team, this match follows a very tough one a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Manchester City at the Etihad a few days ago. With that game included, they are now without a win in their last four outings in all competitions.

They were first beaten by Leeds United at Elland Road by 5-2, then they drew 1-1 at home against 10-men Fulham, and were knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Championship side Brentford. Before all that, however, they managed to beat…

PSG ´out for revenge´ against Lille, says Icardi

Paris Saint-Germain will look to start making amends for last season s underwhelming efforts by seeking revenge against Lille in the Trophee des Champions, according to star forward Mauro Icardi.

Mauricio Pochettino s men finished as runners-up in Ligue 1 to Lille, falling short domestically after their Champions League semi-final exit against Manchester City.

However, Icardi is confident PSG will hit the ground running in Pochettino s first full season in charge, and they will look to start strong against Lille in Sunday s Trophee des Champions clash.

We will be out for revenge, Icardi said to the club s media on Thursday. If we start the season by winning a title, we can start the league the following week in the best possible way.

It s true that we…

Durm joins Eintracht Frankfurt after Huddersfield deal ends

Eintracht Frankfurt have signed Erik Durm on a long-term deal that will keep the defender at the Bundesliga club until 2023.

Durm s contract at Huddersfield ended after the Terriers were relegated from the Premier League and he has returned to his homeland, where he previously played for Borussia Dortmund.

The full-back, who can play on either flank, made 28 Premier League appearances for Huddersfield in 2018-19 as he bounced back from an injury-ravaged final season at Dortmund.

Huddersfield had an option to extend Durm s contract by a further 12 months yet decided against retaining his services, though the 27-year-old enjoyed his time in England.

My year in England was a great experience, said Durm.

The Premier League is one of the best leag…