Argentina crisis: Messi, Mascherano to choose players against Nigeria, as coach demoted

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi and his fellow players will select the team that will face the Super Eagles of Nigeria in a much anticipated World Cup last Group D match on Tuesday night after coach Jorge Sampaoli was demoted by the country’s football authority, according to media reports.

Argentina have had a poor start to the World Cup in Russia and will be eliminated should they fail to beat the Super Eagles on Tuesday night in Saint Petersburg.

According to the Mail on Sunday, Argentina’s 1986 World Cup winner Ricardo Giusti claimed that he has spoken to AFA general manager Jorge Burruchaga, who has admitted that 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 in the bench, he can do it. If not, no problem.”

Sampaoli was reported to be in talks with Argentina FA president Claudio Tapia late on Saturday night but looked like keeping his job, though having to take account of the players’ concerns.

Messi and Javier Mascherano, as the senior players, would be most likely to be consulted to revive the campaign, with Argentina needing a win over Nigeria to take second place in the group, assuming that Iceland don’t beat Croatia and better Argentina’s goal difference.