Argentina World Cup omissions have left Twitter in shock

Argentina coach Mario Ledesma has named his 31-man squad for the World Cup today, and there are some very noticeable absences.

With every World Cup squad there are inevitably names that some feel should be in there, and some that should not, but the omission of Facundo Isa and Santiago Cordero may be the most controversial of this tournament. Toulon’s Isa and Exeter Chiefs’ Cordero are part of a contingent of northern hemisphere players that are set to miss out, including Harlequins’ Martin Landajo, Racing 92’s Juan Imhoff.

But it is perhaps the overlooking of Isa and Cordero that is the most surprising.

The elusive Cordero has just come from a sensational season with Exeter, being nominated for the Premiership Player of the Year award. Any fan that watches the Premiership would surely have had the back three ace as a certainty to make the showcase in Japan.

Likewise, any fan of the Top 14 would have expected Isa to go, as he has been one of Toulon’s leading forwards over the past few seasons, capable of playing as a flanker or number eight. While he misses out, the ageing Juan Manuel Leguizamon will make his fourth World Cup. Although the 36-year-old flanker was great during his prime, few would argue that he is better than the dynamic Isa currently.

In Ledesma’s defence, he has clearly made a point of prioritising players from the Jaguares in Argentina, and after they made the Super Rugby final this year, that may lead to continuity and cohesion in the squad.

But there are some players that are worthy of making an exception for, and many fans on Twitter feel that Isa and Cordero are two of those.

This is what has been said:

Argentina are in a devilish pool this World Cup, competing against both England and France. It will be a hard pool to get out of, and some fans feel that the Pumas have done themselves no favours by omitting so many high-quality players. Then again, England and France fans will not be complaining.