Julio Cruz profile
Despite not featuring at all in World Cup qualifying, Internazionale striker Julio Cruz will add a different dimension to Argentina's attack this summer.
While unlikely to be a first choice starter for Jose Pekerman, Cruz, who has been in good form at club level, is a tall, strapping centre forward who is not averse to the physical side of the game.
"Cruz has been important for us with his goals as well as his all-round game."
Inter coach Roberto Mancini
The powerful forward is just as effective in bringing people into play with his back to goal as he is foraging in the box.
'El Jardinero' began his career at Banfield before moving on to River Plate in 1996, where he scored 17 goals in 29 league games to attract the attention of Feyenoord.
After a goal-laden stint at De Kuip, Cruz joined Bologna in 2000 but initially struggled to acclimatise to football in Italy.
Inter were his next port of call in 2003 and, as at Bologna, he struggled to establish himself as a first team regular at Giuseppe Meazza - scoring just 12 goals in his first two seasons at the club.
Season 2005/06 proved to be a breakthrough one, however, and his impressive scoring ratio of 15 goals in just 16 Serie A starts obviously caught the eye of Pekerman.
Competing with the likes of Adriano and Obafemi Martins for a starting place at Inter, Cruz weighed in with some crucial strikes for the Nerazzurri.
A late double in Inter's UEFA Champions League victory over Porto proved instrumental in Porto's qualification for the later stages of the competition last November.
He also scored the second goal in Inter's 3-1 Coppa Italia final win over Roma - the side who were linked with the player before he committed his long-term future to Inter in January.
Having made his international debut back in 1997, with only sporadic international appearances since, Cruz will hope to make his belated mark for the Albicelestes.
