Cruyff to make debut as coach of Catalonia against Argentina

Madrid- Johan Cruyff will make his debut as the coach of Catalonia against Argentina on December 22, announced Jordi Casals, president of the Catalan regional football federation, on Sunday.

The match will take place in Barcelona's Camp Nou stadium. Casals fixed up the match during a meeting in Madrid on Sunday with Julio Grondona, president of the Argentine football federation.

 Argentine national coach Diego Maradona will not be on the Argentina bench because he was banned for two months earlier on Sunday by FIFA's disciplinary committee over an obscene outburst to the media in October after a World Cup qualifying match away to Uruguay.

 On Saturday, Argentina lost a high-profile friendly 2-1 away to Spain.

 Cruyff was persuaded by Casals last month to be the coach of Catalonia, an unpaid post. The Catalan team plays a handful of friendly matches every season, but many Catalans would like their team to participate in more international tournaments.

DPA