Position: Defender
Born: 19.03.78
Club: Manchester United

Included in the 23-man squad despite having played no first-team football since September, Gabriel Heinze is one of the rocks of the Argentina side.

Signed by Manchester United from Paris St Germain two summers ago for £6.9million, Heinze took next to no time to settle in England and is something of a cult hero with the Old Trafford faithful for his committed displays in red and white.

Primarily a central defender with the national side, the 28-year-old is used at left-back by Sir Alex Ferguson - or was until damaging cruciate ligaments in the Red Devils' Champions League tie with Villarreal in mid-September.

Given that was his last outing at first-team level (although he did play for United's reserve team towards the end of the season) before the Argentina squad was named there were real doubts about whether he would be included, but his determination to get fit has been rewarded with a ticket to Germany.

Described by Ferguson as a "warrior", Heinze is a typically robust Argentine defender and his experience is such that he should slot back in seamlessly despite his lack of matches.