Boca Juniors striker Daniel Bilos was called up for the first time by coach Jose Pekerman just when he was being courted by Croatia, the land of his forebears, who have also qualified for the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
Cruz has been in top form in Serie A this season for Inter and will be hoping he has better luck than four years ago. He scored in a 1-1 friendly draw against Wales in Cardiff in February 2002 but failed to win a place in Argentina's squad for the Asia finals.
He is one of four Inter players in the 22-man squad, including right back Javier Zanetti who missed four matches for Argentina since winning his 101st cap in the Confederations Cup final against Brazil in Frankfurt in June.
Striker Javier Saviola, on loan at Sevilla from Barcelona, has been recalled after
Argentina meet arch-rivals England on neutral ground in Geneva on November 12. They play in Qatar four days later.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Roberto Abbondanzieri (Boca Juniors), Leonardo Franco (Atletico Madrid)
Defenders: Roberto Ayala (Valencia), Diego Placente (Celta Vigo), Javier Zanetti, Walter Samuel (both Inter Milan), Martin Demichelis (Bayern Munich), Gabriel Milito (Real Zaragoza), Fabricio Coloccini (Deportivo Coruna)
Midfielders: Sebastian Battaglia (Boca Juniors), Juan Roman Riquelme, Juan Pablo Sorin (both Villarreal), Esteban Cambiasso (Inter Milan), Luis Gonzalez (Porto), Mario Santana (Palermo), Daniel Bilos (Boca Juniors), Maxi Rodriguez (Atletico Madrid)
Forwards: Hernan Crespo (Chelsea), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Carlos Tevez (Corinthians), Javier Saviola (Sevilla), Julio Ricardo Cruz (Inter Milan).