Position: Forward
Born: 16.08.81
Club: Bayern Munich

All of Paraguay will be hoping that Roque Santa Cruz is fit and firing for the World Cup finals.

The Bayern Munich striker damaged knee ligaments in a Bundesliga clash with Cologne on October 31 and was out of action for six months, returning just in time to book his World Cup plac.

Santa Cruz is nothing if not consistent; he has spent five seasons at Bayern and scored five goals in every season.

This return does not match the striker's abilities, but it is easy to forget just how young Santa Cruz is.

Still only 24, he has been a regular in the Paraguay national team since bursting onto the scene with a string of impressive performances in the 1999 Copa America at the age of just 17.

And despite his mediocre goals return in Germany, Santa Cruz has more winners' medals already than most players pick up in their entire careers, winning four Bundesliga titles with Bayern as well as the 2001 Champions League.

Santa Cruz's tremendous skill with both feet and his eye for goal have drawn comparisons with Gabriel Batistuta, but 'Chico' still has a long way to go to match the legendary Argentinian's achievements.

But, with time on his side and already at his second World Cup finals, Santa Cruz will see the 2006 tournament as a golden chance to show the world what he can do.

• 1 Justo Villar