Is Jorge Sampaoli still the Argentina manager and who picks their team at World Cup 2018?
Forced to retire from football at the age of just 19, Sampaoli is known for his touchline antics and sleeve tattoos
ARGENTINA are chasing a third World Cup title this summer in Russia.
They were led into the tournament by boss Jorge Sampaoli, but he is rumoured to have been the victim of a "players' coup" following the country's 3-0 loss to Croatia.
Who is Jorge Sampaoli?
A FORMER youth player for Newell's Old Boys, Sampaoli was forced to retire from playing in 1979 aged just 19.
Born in Sante Fe, the Argentine defensive midfielder suffered a tibia and fibula injury which forced him out of the game - but it wasn't until 2002 that he secured his first managerial job.
He began that journey in Peru, before domestic success in Chile and Ecuador with Emelec and O'Higgins.
That led to Sampaoli getting the Chilean national team job in 2012, where he won the 2015 Copa America title using a high-energy pressing game.
When did he take the Argentina job?
AFTER a spell at Sevilla in 2016-17, Sampaoli was approached by Argentina in May 2017.
Sampaoli's first game in charge was a friendly match against Brazil the following month.
Is Jorge Sampaoli still the Argentina manager?
Jorge Sampaoli remains on the touchline but Lionel Messi and Javier Mascherano are believed to be in the driving seat.
The Argentina manager is set to be sacked after the World Cup regardless of how the team performs.
What was the coup which saw Argentina players wanting him out?
SENIOR players went to Argentine FA chiefs after the dismal loss to Croatia, demanding Sampaoli be sacked.
Javier Mascherano was said to have been the leader of the attempt to force out the boss, which was unsuccessful.
Sampaoli was given a stay of execution by FA president Claudio Tapia after crisis talks at Argentina's HQ.
Who picks the Argentina team?
Ricardo Giusti, a close friend of the AFA general manager, revealed the mood in the camp.
He 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.”
Against Nigeria, they lined up in a 4-3-3 formation favoured by Messi, but not Sampaoli.
And Sampaoli was filmed supposedly asking the captain whether he should bring on Sergio Aguero during the match.
