Copa America 2011 Results: 5 Changes That Will Deliver Wins for Argentina

Argentina has struggled in Group A of the 2011 Copa America.

The host nation started the tournament with a 1-1 draw with Bolivia, saved by a stunning volley by Kun Aguero late in the match.

Up against their toughest group competition in their second match, Argentina were unable to break down Colombia's defense as the 90 minutes finished in a goalless draw.

The Albiceleste entered the tournament as favorites to win the title. However, after two matches, the host nation sits in third place in the group, needing a win to progress into the knockout stages.

Manager Sergio Batista has received heavy criticism for his inability to find the right formula. His tactics have failed to deliver an end product, as the Albiceleste have noticeably struggled to create good goalscoring opportunities.

In order for Argentina to survive the group stage, they have to beat second-place Costa Rica. The host nation must tweak the starting 11 and explore other attacking systems and formations.

Here are five changes that will deliver wins for Argentina.

Passing Tempo

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In their first two matches of the tournament, Argentina have played with a lackluster tempo.

The Albiceleste have been unable to get out of first gear, failing to infuse some pace into their attacking play. The host nation has been able to string together passes and keep possession.

However, they have lacked the sharp and crisp passing to unlock defenses.

Argentina's poor start to the Copa America is a direct result of their slow build-up play and passing tempo. The starting 11 needs to play with more intensity and urgency, getting on the ball and moving without it.

The Albiceleste have a world-class collection of talent upfront. Although Lionel Messi has yet to put his stamp on the tournament, the other attackers must take responsibility and increase the speed of play.

With a heightened intensity from the start, Argentina can deliver a win against Costa Rica and progress into the group stages.

Natural Width

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Although Argentina have played with a trio of attacking players, the team has lacked natural width.

With Carlos Tevez on the left, Messi through the middle and Ezequiel Lavezzi on the right, the Albiceleste play extremely narrow upfront. The City striker is not as comfortable playing out wide and lacks the pace to cause problems down the flank.

Although Lavezzi can play in a wide position, he prefers to cut inside rather than race to the byline. The Albiceleste needs to bring in a player that provides genuine width down the flanks.

Batista has a perfect candidate for the role in Real Madrid's Angel di Maria.

The Argentine winger can stretch the field by hugging the touchline. Di Maria has blistering pace and exceptional dribbling skills, making him a dangerman down the flank.

The Madrid star can create separation from defenders and beat players to the byline. For a team that has lacked pace in the final third, di Maria could be that immediate spark out wide.

Central Midfielders

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Batista's three-man midfield of Javier Mascherano, Ever Banega and Esteban Cambiasso has underperformed in the first two matches.

Argentina's poor form has forced the manager to substitute at least one of the central midfielders in both matches.

At the hour mark against Columbia, Batista replaced Cambiasso with forgotten Real Madrid midfielder Fernando Gago. The former Boca Juniors star has been plagued by injuries over the past two years, which caused him to miss out on Argentina's World Cup roster.

Gago was one of the bright spots of the match, getting on the ball and distributing well. His passing and vision from a deep-lying position elevated the team's level of play.

The Madrid midfielder found Tevez on the edge of the area with a perfectly weighted pass, which almost led to a goal for the City striker.

With his impressive second-half display, Gago has earned the right to start in the match against Costa Rica. Whether he replaces Cambiasso or Banega, the former Boca Juniors star would bring a different dimension to midfield.

Batista needs to make a change to his starting 11, and Gago has emerged as the man to distribute and dictate play from the midfield.

Use of Lionel Messi

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In the 2011 Copa America, Lionel Messi has yet to reach the operatic high notes of his play with European champions Barcelona.

The Argentine No. 10 has not performed poorly in the group stage, but he has not made the impact that supporters anticipated at the start of the tournament.

Messi's level of play has been a direct result of Batista's tactics and attacking system. The Argentine manager has adopted a Barcelona-esque 4-3-3 formation, with the little magician operating as the central striker.

The Barcelona star has shown glimpses of brilliance and breathtaking skill, but the Albiceleste system does not get the best out of the reigning Ballon d'Or winner.

With Argentina's current group of players, Messi will not excel in a central position. Although he has been sensational in the same role for Barcelona, the national team is a completely different composition of stars and styles of play.

The Albiceleste need to move Messi out on the right wing. He began his career as an attacking winger, and frequently drifts out wide for both club and country.

By moving the Barcelona star from a central to wide position, Argentina would have a more balanced attack and better width. More importantly, Messi would have much more time on the ball.

As a central striker, the Argentine No. 10 consistently attracted double-teams from centre-backs and midfielders tracking back defensively. Playing on the right-wing, Messi will primarily be marked by one fullback, and possibly a trailing winger or covering midfielder.

Out on the right-flank, the Barcelona star will be able to cut inside, and find better angles for strikers making diagonal runs through the defense. The change will put Messi in a position where he can create for others and take on defenders.

Batista has experimented with Messi as a central striker. However, the host nation has been largely ineffective in the tournament. The Albiceleste will improve dramatically from his switch to a right-wing position.

New System and Formation

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Argentina's attempts to mirror Barcelona have failed. Batista tried to use a similar tactical setup, but his team has not been able to deliver goals.

The Albiceleste must abandon their ineffective 4-3-3 formation in order to beat Costa Rica in their decisive encounter.

The host nation has not been able to succeed with the Barcelona system because they do not have the players to fit the tiki-taka style. Although Argentina have the same goalscoring magician upfront, they do not have right type of midfielders and defenders.

Barcelona's backbone, Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Sergio Busquets, Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique, is the key to their breathtaking passing style of football.

The Spanish maestros are two of the most technically gifted midfielders in football, rarely giving away possession and always finding the right pass.

Although Busquets, Puyol and Pique do not grab the headlines, they are equally important to the club's tiki-taka football.

Barcelona's ability to keep possession for long periods of time allows them to create a makeshift back-three. Busquets drops back into defense, as the middle centre-back. T

his shift in formation allows Dani Alves and the left-back, either Eric Abidal or Adriano, to push up into the midfield. Barcelona's back-three helps create two vs. one situations in the midfield and final third.

While Argentina have players who can fit that system, such as Messi and Mascherano, they lack the other key ingredients to successfully play Barcelona's style of football.

The Albiceleste do not have gifted passers in midfield or the defenders to emulate the European champions. Burdisso and Milito are not the type of centre-backs that could excel in a makeshift back-three.

In order to survive the group stage, the host nation should switch to a 4-4-2 or make significant changes to their 4-3-3. With Mascherano and Gago, Cambiasso or Banega, Argentina can control the midfield with only two players.

If Batista prefers to keep three central midfielders, he needs to reconsider the starting 11. Messi should feature out on the right, with either Carlos Tevez or Gonzalo Higuain through the middle and either di Maria or Aguero down the left. Gago would also be a key addition to the midfield.

Although Batista's men have struggled in the first two matches, Argentina have the players and talent to progress into the knockout stage and win the 2011 Copa America.