I bet Spain coach Luis Aragones wishes he only had to worry about whether to give David Beckham a run-out for his 100th cap.

After an impressive end to qualification for Euro 2008, Aragones probably thought he’d have just a little fine-tuning to do ahead of the tournament in Austria and Switzerland.

Instead, the 69-year-old is likely to be juggling names like Albelda, Guti, Raul and Navarro in his head as he tries to solve a host of unexpected selection puzzles before announcing the squad for next week’s friendly against France

The first (and easiest) question is whether he should he call up Barcelona prodigy Bojan Krkic to prevent possible overtures from Serbia, even though the 17 year-old is only in his first season in the top flight and is unlikely to go to Euro 2008. The answer to that one looks a resounding yes.

Then there is the more difficult conundrum of David Albelda.

The Valencia player has always been Aragones’s first call when’s he’s wanted a tough edge in midfield. But Ronald Koeman’s decision to purge the former club captain means he has not kicked a ball, or an opponent for that matter, in anger for two months.

Argentina may have decided to call up Juan Roman Riquelme while he was in the wilderness at Villarreal, but while you might be able to justify the inclusion of a languid player renowned for his touch, set-piece play and passing, it is more difficult to see how a player of Albelda’s characteristics can keep his place without that competitive edge.

Valencia’s dramatic downturn in form must be giving Aragones a serious headache given that the backbone of the squad comes from the club.

Centre-back Carlos Marchena is increasingly unsteady, wingers David Silva and Joaquin look to have run out of ideas and striker David Villa has lost his spark up front. Will he stick with them and hope they pull through under Koeman or will he look for possible alternatives ahead of Euro 2008?

Aragones has become accustomed to fielding a barrage of questions from the Madrid-based press about Raul’s absence from the squad, but this time, and barring a last-minute change of heart, he will have to explain the omission of the in-form Guti as well.

Although inconsistent and occasionally petulant on the pitch,  the Real Madrid midfielder seems to operate on a different plain to the rest. He is a master of the defence-splitting pass and the unexpected assist. With Xavi failing to shine at Barça could it be time to give Guti another chance?

Another dilemma for Aragones is who to bring in as cover at left back. Joan Capdevila looks to have nailed down the first-choice slot after a great season at Villarreal but Atletico duo Mariano Pernia and Antonio Lopez have failed to convince and Aragones may look further afield with Mallorca’s Fernando Navarro now the favourite.

PHOTO: Barcelona’s Bojan Krkic celebrates a goal against Murcia during their league match at the Nou Camp, January 12, 2008. REUTERS/Albert Gea