Argentine players ask Coach Sampaoli not to manage their final game against Nigeria next Tuesday

ARGENTINA's players have asked their head coach Jorge Sampaoli not to manage the side in their final World Cup group game and make way for assistant manager Jorge Burruchaga when they face Nigeria on June 26 after their woeful 0-3 loss to Croatia last night.

Yesterday, Argentina slumped to a heavy defeat to Croatia in their second Group D match at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium thanks to three second half goals from Ante Rebic, Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic. With the loss, Argentina now only have one point from two matches and look certain to crash out of the tournament after their next match against Nigeria next Tuesday.

Tonight, Nigeria faces Iceland in the Super Eagles' second group game taking place at the Volgograd Arena  in what is now a must-win match. Encouraged by last night's results, the Eagles are all fired up for the match, knowing that a win against Iceland tonight will put them in pole position to qualify from the group alongside Croatia.

If the Eagles beat Iceland today, they just need to secure a win against a disjointed Argentine side that is in turmoil in their last match and qualification to the next round is secure. After last night's loss, the Argentines are in total disarray, with Coach Sampaoli losing the dressing room to what appears to be a fullscale mutiny.

Argentine football fan Roberto Rojas, Tweeted: "Rumours in Argentina saying now that the players have asked Jorge Sampaoli to not coach the final game against Nigeria on Tuesday and he accepted meaning that Jorge Burruchaga will be the manager. Only rumours mind you but certainly a mutiny I haven’t seen since France 2010."

After yesterday's defeat, Coach Sampaoli blamed his players for not sticking to his instructions and adapting to the game. In his own Tweet, he said: " My players did not adapt and the project failed."

However, in a sure sign that his players do not agree and blame the coach for the loss, striker Sergio Aguero responded with a retort on Twitter. He said: "Let him say what he wants."

It now appears that the players are questioning Sampaoli's tactics and selection, especially, his fielding of a weak midfield and his keeping players like Gonzalo Higuain, Paulo Dybala and Cristian Pavon out of the starting line-up. Even when he made substitutions, he took off Aguero for Higuain, which raised a few eyebrows.

Knowing they cannot take anything for granted though, the Eagles know they have to win their last two matches to proceed to the next stage. Playing Argentina unh their last game may be tricky too as the new coach Burruchaga and his team may be out to prove a point, making them a difficult prospect.