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Scaloni Restores Mastantuono and Panichelli to Argentina Squad for Final Pre-World Cup Friendlies

The late call-ups give Lionel Scaloni a last March window to assess two fringe attackers before finalizing his World Cup list.

Overview

  • AFA confirmed that Franco Mastantuono and Joaquín Panichelli have been added for the March friendlies, with Mauritania set for March 27 at La Bombonera and a second match on March 31 still to be confirmed.
  • Mastantuono returns despite reduced minutes and recent struggles at Real Madrid, which had led to his initial omission from the latest list.
  • Panichelli earns selection on strong club form at Racing Strasbourg, where he is among Ligue 1’s leading scorers with 14 goals.
  • The additions mark a reversal from the prior call-up and sharpen competition for attacking places that also includes Nicolás Paz and Gianluca Prestianni.
  • Argentina’s second opponent on March 31 has not been announced, with some reports pointing to Guinea-Bissau as a possibility.