Argentina appoints Sabella as new coach

Argentina on Thursday appointed Alejandro Sabella as national team coach to replace sacked Sergio Batista, the federation's general-secretary, Jose Luis Meiszner, announced.

"The decision has been taken. Sabella is the choice," Meiszner said.

Argentina's Copa America quarterfinal exit to Uruguay earlier this month cost Batista his job even though he had only replaced Diego Maradona just eight months earlier.