Argentina manager breaks down in tears as he evokes Joaquín Panichelli’s ACL blow | OneFootball

Ahead of Argentina’s match against Mauritania over the weekend, RC Strasbourg Alsace forward Joaquín Panichelli suffered an ACL injury, which not only signalled the end of his season with the Ligue 1 club, it also put paid to his dreams of featuring at the World Cup.

Initially omitted from the squad, Panichelli, currently top scorer in Ligue 1 (16 goals), was later called up, but he suffered an injury in training ahead of Argentina’s friendly against Mauritania, which they would go on to win 2-1. 

Ahead of Argentina’s second game of the international break, a friendly against Zambia, Lionel Scaloni held his pre-match press conference. However, it was cut short when he was asked a question about Panichelli’s ACL injury. 

“He deserved his place. He was training really well. I told him he would get another chance,” said Scaloni, who was visibly emotional when evoking the health of his centre-forward. Scaloni then promptly left the press conference. It is the second serious injury that 23-year-old Panichelli has sustained in his career.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle