Buenos Aires, Jul 27: Sergio Batista, has stepped down as the coach of the Argentina football team. His action follows Argentina's early exit from the Copa America 2011, which they had hosted.

Speaking at a press conference, Argentine Football Association (AFA) spokesman Ernesto Cherquis Bialo said, "The national teams commission has decided to rescind the contract. Batista wasn't sacked."

Bialo added, "(Batista) put his future at the head of the national team up for consideration by the (AFA) executive committee," and informed that Argentina's international friendly against Romania, scheduled in August was cancelled.

He said, "The coaching staff of Argentina teams at all levels are under evaluation by the national teams commission. There are no deadlines, there's no rush, no urgency (to name a new coach), so there will be a process of consideration and study."

Argentina were the favourites to lift the Copa America 2011 which they were hosting but were beaten by eventual champions Uruguay in the quarter-finals on penalties. This put immense pressure on Batista from all quarters. Even his former colleagues in the Argentina national team for which he played in the 80's asked for his resignation.

It can be recollected that he had taken over from former team-mate Diego Maradona as the coach of the national team, after Argentina were beaten in the quater-finals of the FIFA World Cup 2010.

Argentina's failure at the Copa America 2011 extended their wait for a major international title to 18 years. The last international trophy they had won was the Copa America in 1993.

OneIndia News