Scaloni’s decision is already generating debate before the World Cup
Argentina’s latest squad announcement brought surprises — but one name stood out for being missing.
Joaquín Panichelli was left out of the list, despite being one of the most in-form Argentine forwards in Europe.
And the decision is already raising serious questions.
Panichelli is currently playing for Strasbourg in France and is having a strong season.
He has already scored 18 goals this season, including a recent streak of 5 goals in 7 matches. 0
With Lautaro Martínez out injured, many expected him to get a clear opportunity.
But that chance never came.
Instead of Panichelli, Scaloni decided to call up players like José Manuel López, Gianluca Prestianni and Nicolás González to fill attacking roles. 1
This shows a clear decision: form alone is not enough.
The coaching staff is prioritizing profiles, tactical fit and internal competition over pure statistics.
At this stage of the cycle, every call-up matters.
Being left out now does not mean Panichelli is completely out of the World Cup — but it does suggest he is currently behind in the race.
And with limited spots available, that gap can be decisive.
Panichelli’s absence feels difficult to explain based on numbers alone.
But in a team like Argentina, competition is brutal.
And sometimes, even scoring goals is not enough.
The real question now is simple: did he just miss one call-up… or is he falling out of Scaloni’s plans?