The Argentina national team have reportedly frozen out manager Jorge Sampaoli in a bid to save their disastrous World Cup campaign.
Mootaz Chehade, a journalist from the Argentinian sports site Vavel, has revealed that the squad have “broken their relation” with the coach following their 3-0 loss against Croatia, a result that has left them on the brink of crashing out of the tournament.
The players reportedly demanded that Sampaoli be relieved of his duties, and have resorted to picking the line-up themselves for their last group fixture with Nigeria.
The news comes after Diego Maradona lambasted the squad for not supporting the misfiring Lionel Messi. The World Cup legend was spotted crying during the Croatia match, and has called for a meeting with the players.
"It cost us too much to be where we are for Croatia to hit us for three goals and to leave with our arms crossed without putting a foot in," he told Venezuelan TV channel Telesur.
"I'm furious and very upset inside, because anyone who has worn that shirt can't see it being trampled like that by a Croatian team that isn't Germany, that isn't Brazil, that isn't Holland or Spain.
Maradona managed Argentina from 2008 to 2010, securing World Cup qualification before losing 4-0 in the quarter-finals to eventual winners Germany. He resigned shortly after the tournament.
