Fans attack Argentina coach
Argentina coach Jorge Sampaoli came under fierce attack after La Albiceleste’s stunning 4-2 defeat by Nigeria in their friendly match in Krasnodar, Russia, on Tuesday.
The Super Eagles recovered from 2-0 down to beat the Lionel Messi-less South American powerhouse after they ran riot in the second half at the Krasnodar Stadium.
And Argentina fans, whose team had beaten Nigeria four times in a competitive affair and once in a friendly encounter, had expected a whitewash.
But goals from Kelechi Iheanacho, Brian Idowu and Alex Iwobi’s brace downplayed Ever Banega’s 28th-minute strike and Sergio Aguero’s 36th international goal on the night.
Sampaoli, who guided Chile to the 2015 Copa America title, was criticised by fans of the two-time world champions after his team squandered a comfortable 2-0 lead.
The majority of the former Sevilla manager’s critics on social media questioned his tactical nous as they expressed their apprehension whether his team would perform at next year’s World Cup.
“Sampaoli has less football idea than my old one,” Valeentin Moran wrote on Twitter.
“Sampaoli does not have to direct the national team anymore,” Pablo Almeiraa wrote.
But Sampaoli defended his team, saying they did their best to win the encounter.
He told LA NACION, “The team has the ability and individuals to overcome these incidents, but we have to improve.
“As for the positive ones, there is one game, the mastery of some situations that without being executed were very close to the idea that we propose in training.”
More Stories
OUTRAGE IN ARGENTINA AS INFLUENCER LINES UP FOR FIRST DIVISION MATCH
An Argentinian club drew the ire of the country’s football community after selecting an influencer with no professional experience in...
ENTERTAINMENT: PORTUGAL HONOUR CRISTIANO RONALDO WITH #QuinasDeOuro2024 AWARD
Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal’s iconic footballer and record-breaking scorer, was honoured Monday night with the prestigious Platinum Quinas trophy at the...
2025 AFCON QUALIFIERS: BENIN VS NIGERIA AND FULL LIST OF OTHER FIXTURES
Countries will compete over the weekend as they vie for spots in the qualification race for the 2025 Africa Cup...
AFCON 2025 QUALIFIERS: SIMON, CHUKWUEZE, SIX OTHERS ARRIVE EARLY IN ABIDJAN
Ahead of their AFCON qualifiers against Benin Republic and Rwanda, Moses Simon and Samuel Chukwueze were among the early arrivals...
DRAW FOR INAUGURAL FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP SET FOR DECEMBER 5
The world’s best football clubs will discover their group stage opponents for the inaugural 32-club FIFA Club World Cup at...
THREE BIG TEAMS THAT SNATCHED DRAWS FROM ARSENAL THIS SEASON
Considered title contenders before and at the start of the season, Arsenal’s Premier League campaign has hit a plateau. No...