Argentina Beat World Cup Champs Spain

Spain's national football team experienced their first loss after the winning the World Cup in South Africa just a few months ago.

Argentina, on the other hand, is experiencing a good run under interim coach, Sergio Batista who took the reigns when the Argentine Football Association did not renew Diego Maradona's contract.

The friendly match was held on September 7, 2010 at River Plate's Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires, with an estimated 55,000 audience. The match ended with 4-1, in favor of Argentina.

The first goal was scored by FIFA's 2009 Player of the Year Lionel Messi in the 10th minute. He kissed the crest on his shirt in celebration as a seeming answer to criticisms about his dedication to La Albiceleste. Three minutes later, it was followed by a goal from former River Plate player and current Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain.

Argentina interim coach Batista given extension

Coming off a thrashing of the World Cup champion, Argentina's interim coach Sergio Batista will keep his job until at least the end of the year.

As a reward for the 4-1 victory of Spain, the former Argentina youth coach will continue his post after being named interim coach last month.

Batista replaced Diego Maradona after Mardona's fallout with the Argentine Football Association's Carlos Bilardo and Julio Grondona. In his first game, Argentina defeated Ireland 1-0 in August.

Luis Seguro of the AFA confirmed after the win versus Spain that Batista would continue. An evaluation will take place at the end of the year to determine the direction the team wants to go in.

Maradona rejects return for Argentina against Spain

BUENOS AIRES: Esteban Cambiasso, Javier Zanetti and Gabriel Milito will make their Argentina comebacks against world champions Spain in a friendly at the River Plate stadium on Tuesday (2000 GMT).

The trio were overlooked by Diego Maradona for the recent World Cup finals in South Africa, where Argentina crashed out in a 4-0 quarterfinal defeat by Germany.

"Gabriel has shown me can bring the ball out well from defense, he has good left foot with good touch," Sergio Batista, Maradona's successor, said of Barcelona center back Milito.

"Javier is a player of great experience who moves into attack with conviction," Batista told a news conference on Monday speaking of the return at right back of Zanetti, who has an Argentine record 136 caps.