The 5 Biggest Copa America Decisions for Argentina Coach Gerardo Martino

After a year in the hot seat of the Argentina national team, coach Gerardo Martino begins his first acid test. The Albiceleste start as big favourites for glory in the Copa America and need a solid performance in Chile to meet expectations. 

The former Barcelona, Paraguay and Newell's Old Boys boss has the luxury of a star-studded squad. But the players alone do not guarantee success. Martino himself must make the right decisions to get the best out of his men, and after an abortive spell at the Camp Nou, failure is not an option for the Rosario native.

Just days before Argentina kick off their Group B campaign with a tricky fixture against Paraguay, the coach has little time to find his best XI in La Serena.

The following are the key puzzles he must solve, including the dilemma of leaving two of the most prolific scorers in England and Italy kicking their heels on the bench. 

5. The Man Between the Posts

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Last Saturday was a bittersweet evening for current Argentina No. 1 Sergio Romero. Quite incredibly, given the doubts he has faced since taking over the jersey, the shot-stopper smashed the appearance record for an Argentine goalkeeper against Bolivia. With 59 caps, Chiquito passed longtime record-holder Ubaldo Fillol. 

A clash with burly Bolivia forward Marcelo Martins during the 5-0 thrashing, however, left its mark. Romero was taken off with a shoulder injury, according to the Buenos Aires Herald, and forced to train away from the rest of the squad at the start of the week.

Against an ever-physical Paraguay, Martino will have to decide if his first choice is ready for the challenge. 

Should the goalkeeper not make it, Nahuel Guzman and Mariano Andujar stand in line to deputise. The former is an international novice with just three caps but enjoys a fantastic relationship with Martino after leading Tata's Newell's team to the title in 2013.

Andujar, meanwhile, fought off the challenge of Geronimo Rulli for the squad with an excellent start to the year and will also be keen to show his worth after an age on the fringe of the Argentina team. 

4. Masche's Midfield Partners

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If all the games Argentina have played under Martino are anything to go by, the Albiceleste will line up in the 4-3-3 formation favoured by the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid right now.

In the crucial engine room, one name is beyond discussion: Blaugrana treble-winner and 2014 World Cup hero Javier Mascherano will once more anchor the middle of the pitch. 

Outside the Jefecito, however, the picture is less clear. The coach is likely to play with one midfielder further back, leaving the third member of the group greater license to push ahead and join the trident in the last third of the pitch. 

For the first position, Ever Banega emerges as slight favourite to partner Masche in the middle. The Sevilla man's range of passing and creative spark puts him just ahead of the more combative Lucas Biglia, while Fernando Gago will also compete for the role.

Javier Pastore, meanwhile, enjoyed an excellent game against Bolivia, which may just give the PSG playmaker the edge over Erik Lamela and Roberto Pereyra to start as the link between midfield and attack. 

3. Arming the Rearguard

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When discussing Argentina's chances in a major competition, it is easy to become distracted by the all-stars in attack. But football is a team game, and as we saw in the World Cup last year, a strong back line is just as important to the Albiceleste as the ability to score goals. 

In one sense, Martino's job has been made a whole lot easier by the re-emergence of Nicolas Otamendi. The powerful Valencia centre-back has established himself among European football's best stoppers this season and should line up alongside Ezequiel Garay in what on paper appears a formidable duo. 

On the left, the coach will have to choose between Marcos Rojo, one of the revelations of the World Cup who has seen his form drop somewhat following a high-profile Manchester United move, or Milton Casco, the only uncapped member of the squad but well-known to Martino from Newell's.

Rojo should have the slight advantage to start, while at right-back Pablo Zabaleta is a certainty to start. 

2. The Best Position for the Best in the World

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Lionel Messi and Gerardo Martino share plenty in common.

The pair both call the Santa Fe city of Rosario home and are fanatics of local giants Newell's Old Boys. La Pulga came through the club's youth ranks before moving to Barcelona as a teenager, while Martino holds the Lepra appearance record with 505 games as a no-nonsense defender. 

Having also spent a year coaching the four-time Ballon d'Or winner with mixed results at Barcelona, the coach must now decide where best to place him on the field. Moreover, he must do so with Messi fresh off the plane from Champions League glory but with little time to train with his national team companions. 

The little genius has proved his talent as a false nine and under Luis Enrique has effortlessly switched to a new posting out on the right. In the middle or out on the wing: those are the choices for the Argentina trainer, and what he opts for could have a big impact on the Albiceleste's Copa America fortunes. 

1. Aguero or Tevez?

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Should Martino pick the top scorer by some distance in the Premier League to fill the centre-forward spot in the Copa America? Or should he go for the consummate winner whose goals almost fired his club to a brilliant treble?

It is a welcome dilemma for any coach, but that will not make the decision any easier. With Messi an automatic choice and Manchester United winger Angel Di Maria set to occupy the left side of Argentina's forward trident, that leaves just one spot open to two of the best strikers in the game.

Sergio Aguero and Carlos Tevez will both be desperate to make the starting lineup for the Paraguay clash, but it is likely one of those stars will have to make do with the bench. 

With no simple formula to separate the pair, Martino could do worse than look at the events of last week. Aguero shined brighter than most with a hat-trick in Argentina's only warm-up clash against Bolivia. Tevez, meanwhile, endured the physical and emotional exhaustion of a Champions League final defeat.

Giving Carlitos a few more days rest while starting with the dynamic Manchester City striker appears to be Martino's best bet, at least for the first game of the tournament.