Introducing the 22

All 22 names for Copa had been announced, and they are:

GK: Abbondanzieri, Carrizo, Orión
DF: Zanetti, Ayala, Heinze, G.Milito, D.Díaz, Ibarra, Burdisso
MF: L.González, Román, Mascherano, Cambiasso, Gago, Verón, Aimar
FW: Messi, Crespo, D.Milito, Tevez, Palacio

Goalie:

Traditionally, the more conservative choice between the keepers would start for Argentina, unless his competition was someone like Amadeo Carrizo. Ustari had a chance, but he got injured and Pato recovered; Juan Pablo Carrizo is too ordinary and less experienced than Abbondanzieri; Orión was recently called up to replace Ustari.
Pato will therefore be the #1. Carrizo = LeoFranco2007 and Orión mascot.

Defense:

With the current list in mind, the previous lineup with Pinola should be:
starting: Zanetti-Ayala-Milito-Heinze
Subs: Ibarra for Zanetti; Burdisso and Díaz for Ayala and Milito; Pinola for Heinze.

So without Pinola, Burdisso will likely become an universal sub since he can play LB, RB and CB (super sub). Ibarra is very similar to Zanetti and should be for Pupi and Pupi only. Díaz is a CB that can lean either way (LCB Clausura 2006, CB Apertura 2006 and RCB now) so he'll be the center limited-universal sub when Burdisso is occupied.

Right to left: Zanetti Ayala Milito Heinze
Subs R --> L: Ibarra Díaz Burdisso

Some midfielders and forwards have ambiguous definitions. To correctly analyse our midfield we need to know how many people are playing up top first.

Forward

Certain conditions are given, hopefully we can work out the coefficients:
Crespo and Milito have some similarities; Tevez likes the left; Messi played mostly on the right; Palacio is a versatile forward that often appeared on the wings.

There're too many forwards for any 1 striker formation, especially since the extra forward(s) got in at the cost of defensive sub(s), I believe any christmas tree formation could be ruled out.

2 possible particular solutions:
A. Crespo subbed by Milito and Palacio backing Tevez, Messi 'fake' forward.
B. Crespo subbed by Milito and Messi by Palacio, Tevez to the wing.

Earlier this year, Basile expressed feeling towards Tevez's position in West Ham, and was quoted "Tevez should be played higher up". If that's what he really believed then solution A clearly stand better chance than B, and Messi will be our midfielder in forward skin.

Midfield

Lucho, Román, Mascherano, Cambiasso, Gago, Verón, Aimar, Messi.
8 midfielders = 4 pairs
Lucho RM (rarely CM)
Cambiasso RM LM CM DM CAM you name it
Verón RM LM LCM RCM
Messi RWM

scientific guesses:
Mascherano - Gago DM
Román - Aimar CAM
Messi - Lucho RM
Verón - Cambiasso LM

3-5-2, 4-4-2 aren't ruled out, they will be discussed in the future.

Perhaps I've forced my way into this conclusion, but I'd really love to see my Albiceleste returned to the innocence of 4-3-1-2