Argentina’s World Cup squad is in revolt after a failed coup attempt against coach Jorge Sampaoli, The Sun reports.
Lionel Messi and co are understood to have demanded the head of the former Chile boss in the wake of the humiliating defeat by Croatia.
The players wanted 1986 World Cup winning midfielder Jorge Barruchaga, currently the general manager of the national side, to replace Sampaoli.
One of Burrachaga’s 1986 teammates, Ricardo Giusti, a close friend of the general manager, the mood was brutal.
Giusti said, “The players want to build the team.
“They told Sampaoli and Tapia that they are going to pick the side. Sampaoli can sit on the bench if he wants, but it won’t matter. It will be nothing to do with him.”
Sampaoli switched from a defensive quartet against Iceland to three at the back for the disastrous Croatia defeat, leaving his squad unconvinced the coach had any strategic planning.
It was also claimed that Mascherano and striker Cristian Pavon came to blows in the dressing room after the Croatia match when the former Liverpool midfielder lashed out verbally at blunder keeper Willy Caballero.
Despite the demands of the players, Sampaoli was given a stay of execution by Tapia after being summoned to the President’s room at Argentina’s base in Bronnitsy, 60 miles outside Moscow.
Sampaoli, though, was told that while he will stay on as coach for the rest of the World Cup, he WILL be sacked at the end of the tournament.
It was suggested that the FA wants Sampaoli to quit but that would mean him giving up claims for a pay-off.
Yet the uneasy peace is fragile and may not hold until Tuesday, with the certainly that an Argentine exit will bring further finger pointing and a renewed blame-game.
