MOSCOW: Argentina's World Cup coach Jorge Sampaoli has been stripped of his power on Saturday as his players “will choose” the line-up for Tuesday’s clash with Nigeria, reports the Daily Mail.
Senior Argentina players have voiced their unhappiness with Sampaoli’s strategies following the 1-1 draw with Iceland and 3-0 loss to Croatia.
It is learnt that Argentina's 1986 World Cup winner Ricardo Giusti has spoken to the country’s FA, and as a result, the players would be consulted for the Nigeria game.
Giusti said: “The players will decide the team, that's a fact. If Sampaoli wants to sit on the bench, he can do it. If not, no problem.'
Senior players Lionel Messi and Javier Mascherano are expected to be consulted to revive Argentina’s campaign.
Messi and his men are fourth in Group D, and desperately need to beat Nigeria. Anything less, Argentina can cry all the way home.
