By Gabriel Araujo

Kansas City, Kansas, June 19 (Reuters Sports Service) - Argentina returned to training as coach Lionel Scaloni faced a new selection dilemma after the defending champions began their World Cup campaign with a 3-0 win over Algeria, with Lautaro Martinez and Julian Alvarez again competing for the striker position.

The key players returned to the training ground to prepare for the second game against Austria on Monday, after their training was limited to the gym on Wednesday, with Martinez leading the attack in the opening game before being replaced by Alvarez in the 55th minute.

Alvarez was the main striker before the start of the tournament, but Scaloni chose Martinez, repeating the scenario of Argentina's successful run in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, when the Inter Milan player started the tournament as the main striker, but Alvarez took over from the third match onwards.

Scaloni said before the Algeria match that the Atletico Madrid striker had recovered from an ankle injury and was ready to play.

After the match, the highlight was Martinez's "amazing physical effort" in the opening game.

He told reporters after the match, "The coach is constantly making decisions - who plays and who doesn't, who comes in and who goes out. Everyone wants to play, but building a team requires 11 players, and you're looking for the perfect lineup."

Argentine media and journalists who attended Thursday's training session indicated that Scaloni is likely to choose Alvarez over Martinez for the Group J match against Austria.

Former Boca Juniors goalkeeper Carlos Navarro Montoya told Reuters, "It's a blessed competition," adding that the difficulty in choosing between the strikers reflects the quality of the Argentine national team.

He added, "Martinez is a striker who excels at finishing attacks, and he is closer to a penalty area striker, while Julian gives you the ability to finish attacks and be present inside the penalty area, but he also contributes outside of it and can be more effective. He has greater physical strength when pressing."

The controversy is not limited to the attacking line only.

There is also uncertainty at right-back, after Gonzalo Montiel started against Algeria, but Nahuel Molina, who is usually the first choice, came on in the second half.

Doubts also remain about the participation of left-back Nicolas Tagliafico due to a calf injury, as Facundo Medina played in his place against Algeria.

The Argentine Football Association announced on Wednesday that Tagliafico is training on the pitch and that his condition is improving positively.