Sampaoli appointed new Chile national team coach

SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) -Jorge Sampaoli has been appointed Chile's national team coach to replace Claudio Borghi, who was fired last month with the South Americans struggling in qualifying for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

An Argentine, Sampaoli stepped aside earlier on Monday as the coach of Chile club Universidad de Chile .

Sampaoli has a big job in front of him.

At the midway point of qualifying for the World Cup, Argentina leads with 20 points, three ahead of Ecuador and four more than Colombia. Uruguay, Chile and Venezuela have 12 each. The top four qualify for the World Cup and the fifth team faces a playoff for a further spot. Brazil qualifies automatically as host.

South American qualifying for the World Cup resumes in June.