AC Milan's crisis threatens to deepen as the champions head into Sunday's derby with Inter, miles off the Serie A title pace and in a battle to reach next year's Champions League.

Napoli moved seven points clear at the top of Serie A after Sunday's 2-0 win at 10-man Sampdoria, who paid tribute to deceased greats Gianluca Vialli and Sinisa Mihajlovic.

Argentina coach Jorge Sampaoli, revealing his starting line-up a day early, is going for safety-first experience in pairing Javier Mascherano and Lucas Biglia in midfield to contain Iceland in Saturday's World Cup Group D opener.

Argentina coach Jorge Sampaoli cut a frustrated figure on the sidelines during Argentina's 6-1 defeat to Spain yesterday and the coach suggests that he is to blame for the defeat.

Argentina hope their new coach Jorge Sampaoli's magic touch, along with returning striker Lionel Messi's magic skills, will spirit them through a rocky qualifying campaign to the 2018 World Cup.

Jorge Sampaoli reacted angrily on Friday to Sevilla's decision to threaten the Argentine Football Association (AFA) with legal action over AFA's interest in hiring the Sevilla coach to rescue their floundering World Cup qualifying campaign.

Jorge Sampaoli has a final shot to further his case to land his dream job at the end of the season when his slumping Sevilla side travel to Barcelona on Wednesday.