The China Mail - Strasbourg's Argentine striker Panichelli sets sights on PSG, World Cup

The giant centre-forward, who models his game on Olivier Giroud and Erling Haaland, has scored 13 goals so far for the Ligue 1 side, including a brilliant brace in a 3-3 draw with Paris Saint-Germain in October.

"That game was maybe the moment when it clicked for me and people started to become familiar with the name Panichelli in France and around Europe," the 23-year-old told AFP in an interview at Strasbourg's Stade de la Meinau.

That is where Strasbourg and PSG will meet again on Sunday, with the home side hoping to continue an encouraging run of form since Englishman Gary O'Neil was appointed coach in the wake of Liam Rosenior's departure for Chelsea.

"This is a club that is growing and every game is enjoyable because the stadium is always full. And we have a very young squad with a great atmosphere," says Panichelli.

These are nevertheless turbulent times for the Alsace side with supporters unhappy at being part of a multiclub ownership model with Chelsea under the consortium BlueCo.

However, Panichelli's focus has been on his own development as he has carried on the form shown last season when he scored 21 goals in the Spanish second tier for Mirandes, on loan from La Liga outfit Alaves.

"I wouldn't say I am now a star but I have made big strides in a short space of time. Other players would maybe need a lot longer," he admits.

"I always believed in my ability. Going to Mirandes was key because they gave me the 10 or 15 games I needed to build confidence.

"I needed that space to develop. I was preparing myself for the next step and that is also what I am doing here now."

- Substituting Messi -

Prior to that, the striker's 2023/24 season was marred by a serious knee injury not long after he arrived in Spain from Buenos Aires giants River Plate, where he had never played a first-team game.

"I always say that in general an injury is like a step back for a player, but I took it as a step forward, a chance to develop physically so I could make the jump to European football," he says.

"I needed to gain a couple of kilos and muscle mass. I did that in those six months."

And it has all led to a call-up to the Argentina squad, with his debut coming in a friendly win in Angola in November, when he was a late replacement for Lionel Messi.

"Representing your country, for me who feels so Argentinian, is a dream -- to be able to come on for a few minutes and to do so replacing Messi was crazy, a dream come true."

He is a completely different kind of player to his great compatriot though, and that old-school profile may help him force his way into coach Lionel Scaloni's World Cup squad.

"My profile on the pitch matches with what I am off it. I like the classic things like reading and rock music," says Panichelli, whose father played for River Plate.

"But I do try to combine a little of that vintage style with the modern day which demands a lot of physicality and covering a lot of ground.

"I try to have a mix. I am useful with both feet and my head. But I am also humble and if others shine more than me, or score the goals, I don't mind."

Another standout display against reigning European champions PSG on Sunday can only help his cause.

"I need to keep doing what I am doing, that's all. At the end of the day if you keep playing well it will happen sooner or later. I don't want to put pressure on myself," he adds.

Ligue 1 fixtures this weekend (times GMT)

Friday

Lens v Le Havre (1945)

Saturday

Paris FC v Marseille (1600), Lorient v Nantes (1800), Monaco v Rennes (2005)

Sunday

Lyon v Lille (1400), Angers v Metz, Nice v Brest, Toulouse v Auxerre (all 1615), Strasbourg v Paris Saint-Germain (1945)

H.Ng--ThChM