Basile resigns as Argentina coach

Argentina coach Alfio Basile has stepped down from his job for “personal reasons”, the country's football federation announced.

Basile, 64, has been under fire since his team's lacklustre showing in the World Cup qualifer against Chile on Wednesday, a game Argentina lost 1-0 to leave them third in the group.

It was Chile's first ever qualifying success over the albiceleste and first of any description since 1973.

Argentina's poor form stretches back over seven games, however, with only one win notched up in that time: a 2-1 victory over Uruguay last week.

Basile signed up in his latest stint as Argentina coach in July 2006 from Boca Juniors. He had previously been national coach from 1991 through to the 1994 World Cup in the United States.

Basile took over from Jose Pekerman, who quit following Argentina's quarter-final elimination at the hands of hosts Germany on penalties in the World Cup.