Third time lucky: in what appears a weaker than usual Paraguay squad, Roque Santa Cruz will be essential if they hope to progress

Caps: 64
Goals: 20
World Cup appearances: 7 (2002, 2006)
World Cup 2010 qualification: 5 appearances/3 goals

Club: Manchester City
Age: 28
Position: Striker

Paraguay’s squad is weaker than in previous tournaments, but in Santa Cruz they at least have one proven world-class performer.

It will be Santa Cruz’s third World Cup, after making his debut for Paraguay at the age of 17. His talent was identified from an early age, when he was one of the star players at the 1999 World Youth Cup.

Bayern Munich snapped him up in 1999 and although he was in competition with the likes of Elber, Claudio Pizarro and Roy Makaay, during his seven years at the club he helped them to three Bundesliga titles and a Champions League win in 2001.

Blackburn manager Mark Hughes brought him into English football in 2007 for £3.5 million - a bargain, as it turned out, with Santa Cruz knocking in 23 goals in his first season.

When Hughes moved to Manchester City, Santa Cruz was one of his primary transfer targets, but it took another season for a deal to be agreed. Santa Cruz eventually signed up to the Eastlands revolution for a fee of £17.5m, but has struggled to make an impact so far in a team embarrassed by its attacking riches.

Santa Cruz has started just one league game all season and his only goal has come in the Carling Cup against Scunthorpe.