Batista set to succeed Maradona

Olympic gold medal-winning coach to lead Argentina to the 2014 World Cup

BUENOS AIRES - Olympic gold medal-winning coach Sergio Batista was poised on Monday to succeed Diego Maradona and lead Argentina to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Batista has been interim coach since Maradona was refused a new contract after Argentina's humiliating 4-0 defeat by Germany in this year's World Cup quarterfinals in South Africa.