Argentina remove Sampaoli as head coach after World Cup failure

The Argentinian Football Association (AFA) over the weekend announced unsurprisingly that they have parted ways with manager Jorge Sampaoli following their dissappointing World Cup campaign in Russia. 

Argentina exited the World Cup stage in the last 16 losing 4-3 to eventual winners France in Samara, as the 1986 and 1978 World Cup winners flopped, both on, and off the pitch in Russia. 

With constant talk in the media suggesting that the Argentine players had reportedly downed tools with Sampaoli following La Albicelesti’s dismal 3-0 defeat to Croatia in their second group game, it appeared as if Sampaoli was on borrowed time from the get go. 

Following their capitulation against the eventual runners up of the tournament in Nizhny Novgorod, Argentina produced the goods when it mattered most against Nigeria in a pulsating 2-1 success to send them through to the round of 16 to face France in Kazan.

That was as far as Argentina would go in this year’s tournament though as they fell to a 4-3 defeat against Didier Deschamps’ side as the French were en-route the most coveted prize in international football. 

Following their early, yet inevitable exit, it appeared that Sampaoli’s position as National Team Head Coach was untenable. After the conclusion of the competition, the A.F.A confirmed that the former Chile Head Coach has parted ways with Argentina in a statement released via their official website. 

The statement reads:

“The Argentine Football Association and Jorge Sampaoli reached a mutual agreement to finish their cycle under the Argentine National Team.

“Today, the Argentine Football Association and the former national team coach, Jorge Sampaoli, have mutually agreed to the termination of their contract. Likewise, the Physical Trainer, Jorge Desio and the video analyst, Matías Manna, also disassociated themselves.

“Next Tuesday will be defined who will be in charge of the Under 20 Team in the COTIF L'Alcudia 2018 tournament.

“This Association thanks the professionals for the activity developed within the Selected during its cycle.”



 

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