Argentina boss almost in tears over his striker’s severe injury: “It sucks…”

Two years ago, Joaquin Panichelli played for Deportivo Alaves B in the fourth tier of Spanish football. After only seven games, the Basques realized the then-22-year-old’s potential and added him to their senior ranks before sending him to La Liga 2 side Mirandes on loan.

The Argentinian “exploded” in Mirande de Ebro, recording 21 goals and 8 assists in 44 games, and hinted at being ready for an even bigger stage. Alaves saw a good chance for profit and sold him to Strasbourg for €17 million last July.

That’s when Panichelli’s rise to the footballing heights began.

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In 39 appearances for the Ligue 1 team, the striker netted 20 times and became a highly viable option for Chelsea, whose affiliate club the French are.

However, another door opened for Panichelli - the most sacred ones for every Argentinian. The door of the national team.

La Albiceleste’s jersey was everything the kid in River Plate’s youth categories dreamed of while watching Lionel Messi lift the World Cup trophy in December 2022. Nearly three years later, he came off the bench to replace Leo in the 86th minute of a friendly duel against Angola, making his debut for Argentina.

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The next goal was clear - to feature at the FIFA World Cup.

For the national team boss, there was no dilemma - Panichelli was one of the 26 names he counted on for vital clashes in North America. Unfortunately, destiny had other plans…

Last Thursday, while the Argentinians were preparing for a friendly match against Mauritania, Strasbourg striker suffered a severe ACL tear in a training session (three years after missing seven months due to the same injury), and his WC dreams were instantly shattered.

He’s still young, some would say. He’ll make it to the World Cup in four years. Yes, but receiving a heavy blow like this one can be mentally devastating. Panichelli is a tough lad, and he’ll overcome this catastrophic situation, but still, everyone around the national team is heartbroken. The head coach, Lionel Scaloni, in the first place.

"It’s very difficult… We’ve spoken with him. He even took the trouble to come to the training facility after they gave him the result. He could have stayed at the hotel in peace, but he came here and asked to speak with us. It was very emotional, and everything he said was absolutely right - he didn’t deserve it.”

“I’ll say it again: he didn’t deserve this-no one does, but him especially. He’s a hard worker; he’d earned it. That’s what I told him: he’ll get another chance. That’s how it is; he’s already had one.”

“And honestly, he’s a guy who inspires others; he was training really well… And it sucks…” the strategist said in the press conference via Marca before uttering “Okay, I’m done talking” and leaving the room on the verge of tears.

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And it’s not about Panichelli’s football qualities and impact on the pitch only. After all, Argentina has such an exceptional squad that the only irreplaceable player is Messi. It’s about a young lad who is going through an “ACL hell” for the second time in his career. And he’s only 23 for crying out loud!

The manager’s tears showed how much love Joaquin has in the national team, and it will undoubtedly help him return much sooner and be much stronger.

Nevertheless, the conclusion is crystal clear, Scaloni summed it up perfectly: It sucks.