HIGH POINT

The top four teams qualify directly for South Africa and the fifth plays off against the fourth-placed team from the North and Central American CONCACAF region.

Basile, appointed in July 2006, was in charge for 28 games, winning 14, drawing eight and losing six.

The high point was a run of five stylish wins at last year's Copa America. However the campaign ended with a crushing 3-0 defeat to archrivals Brazil in the final as Argentina extended their 14-year wait for a trophy.

Things began to go wrong this year with a run of six successive draws, four in the qualifiers and two in friendlies.

The team appeared to have weathered the storm with a 2-1 World Cup qualifying win over Uruguay on Saturday.

However, media said that Basile appeared shocked by the angry reaction to Wednesday's 1-0 defeat when Argentina were outclassed by a Chilean side led by their former coach Marcelo Bielsa.

Messi said in an interview that Argentina played badly and were at sixes and sevens.

During his previous stints, Basile won the Copa America in 1991 and 1993 but was also in charge for a historic 5-0 home defeat by Colombia in a World Cup qualifier.

His team reached the second round at the 1994 World Cup where they lost to Romania.

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