Tall players XI: The best from across Europe

Many claim that the best players are the short ones. And they can’t be labelled as wrong. From Pele to Diego Maradona and now Lionel Messi – the biggest of talents sometimes come in the smallest of packs. Their short stature means that their center-of-gravity is better and that makes them much more nimble and agile.However, there are also many players, who are tall and physically imposing, and have made their name in the world of football. Many defenders, especially, are the ones who fall in this category. However, it is not only limited to them as some of the best midfielders and forwards in the world are also tall.With all this in mind, here is our best Tall Players XI -Note – Minimum height requirement to be featured on the list is 6 feet and the formation is a 4-3-3

#1 Goalkeeper: Thibaut Courtois - 6\'6\"

Thibaut Courtois is the tallest player on the team

He is a basically a giant. While almost all goalkeepers are tall, Courtois is the tallest among the best ones and it is for this reason that he makes the team.

Standing at 6’6”, his huge stature ensures a commanding presence within the box – something that brings relief to the backline as they know that it will be almost impossible for the opponents to beat him to the ball in the air, and that it will be tough for them to put the ball beyond someone that big.

His humongous presence and talent has made him the first name on Chelsea’s team. Petr Cech, a club legend in his own right, found it too hard to compete against this giant and has, hence, left to Arsenal for definite greener pastures.

#2 Right-back: Danilo - 6\'0\"

Danilo is one of the tallest full-backs around

At 6’0”, he is one of the tallest full-backs in the football fraternity. That height is uncommon for a full-back as they are almost always among the shortest members in the team.

Danilo, however, is unique. He was one of the jewels back at Santos along with Neymar and the now-forgotten Paulo Henrique Ganso. Porto knew his potential and snapped him up before anyone else could.

The Brazilian’s height gives him an edge that few full-backs do. One of the key problems Madrid faced last season was defending against aerial balls. Daniel Carvajal, a great right-back, was often caught ball-watching during aerial duels. However, Danilo won’t just be a spectator in those situations.

#3 Centre-back: Raphael Varane - 6\'3\"

For someone who is that tall, Varane is quick as a gazelle

He is among the very few players who stand at 6’3” and can run as fast as a cheetah.

Varane wowed fans all over the world with his unreal performance against Barcelona back in the 2011-12 season. He was only 18 years old at that time and yet impressed against the Catalans. An injury after that took away many months from his career and he hasn’t looked the same ever since.

However, he is still a great defender – and the future of Real Madrid, if all goes well (which rarely happens at the Madrid circus). He is definitely one of the tallest centre-backs around, and rightfully takes his place on this list.

#4 Centre-back: Gerard Pique - 6\'4\"

Pique has been one of the best defenders in the world in the last year

If this article was written at this time last year, Gerard Pique wouldn’t have been on it. However, after a strong season – which has seen him make a tremendous comeback – he finds his way to our glamourous list on his own merit.

In a team that is filled with players of tiny stature, Gerard Pique bears the flag of exception as his height of 6‘4” makes him the only genuine aerial threat from set-pieces, along with Sergio Busquets.

Under Pep Guardiola, and now Luis Enrique, he has shown that he can be a very good defender when used properly and a center-back pairing of Raphael Varane and Gerard Pique will rarely be outdone aerially.

#5 Left-back: Filipe Luis - 6\'0\"

Filipe Luis is probably the only one on this list who isn’t a regular for his team

Now this guy shouldn’t be here; simply because he hasn’t played enough to make a claim to be on any sort of list. However, he is the only renowned left-back out there who stands at 6’0” – the base requirement to be on this list.

After a stellar time at Atletico Madrid, the Brazilian has found it tough to break through the team at Chelsea. The former Atleti man has rarely featured in Jose Mourinho’s playing XI and, if rumours are to be believed, he is heading back to Madrid.

One thing about him that stood out was his ability to defend inside the box and deal with aerial threats – which doesn’t come as a shock given his height – and hence he definitely deserves to feature here for not his form, but his ability.

#6 Right defensive midfielder: Sergio Busquets - 6\'2\"

Sergio Busquets – Probably the most important player for both Barcelona and Spain

Sergio Busquets was, is and shall remain the most underrated player of every tournament that the team he represented won. Be it with Spain or Barcelona, the Barca youth product is someone who wins you tournament rather than just games.

And his height of 6’2” gives him the necessary commanding presence to operate at the base of midfield and start moves from there. Although, he is not among the best attacking headers of the ball in the game, he can certainly be counted on to make timely aerial interceptions whenever necessary.

Barcelona and Spain fans may love Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta the most, but it is this man whose play gives the aforementioned duo the breathing space to display their talents.

#7 Left defensive midfielder: Nemanja Matic - 6\'4\"

Matic changed it all for Chelsea when he joined them in January last season

With a height of 6’4”, he is easily the tallest outfield player in this team along with Pique. And what a player he is.

For many, he was the best holding midfielder in Europe last season. His superb defensive ability coupled with his exceptional passing range doesn’t give others to argue otherwise – he was indeed the best holding player last season.

Chelsea ticked when he played well. He was the backbone of the team – just like how he would be the backbone of this one. Not many teams would be able to breach the double pivot of Busquets and Matic. Instead, they would perhaps be intimidated and move sideways.

#8 Central midfielder: Paul Pogba - 6\'2\"

Paul Pogba is the man most big teams are after

Need you be asking why? He is 6’2“ tall and the best box-to-box midfielder in the world. The best. No boundaries of age group or anything. Simply, the best.

One can only wonder how Sir Alex Ferguson saw Rafael more fit to be at central midfield than the Frenchman. This was probably the Scot’s worst decision in his illustrious and very long career at Manchester United.

At Juventus, the 22-year-old showed what he is capable of and that has attracted clubs like Barcelona and Manchester City, as both of them are now running around to secure his signature, with the former looking more likely to be his next destination.

Along with Busquets and Matic, he would form arguably the most solid midfield in the game.

#9 Right forward: Thomas Muller - 6\'1\"

Thomas Muller – The master of space and timing runs

He might not be as talented or technically skilled as the rest of the players here on this list. However, there is not another player that has the same savvy and is as cunning as the German.

And it is that, and a height of 6’1”, that puts him in this team. His movement off-the-ball should be recorded and shown to young aspiring forwards – they would become better players by just watching them.

He either confuses the defenders to score himself or makes space for his team-mates to exploit; all without touching the ball, and that’s something very few can do. It is this that makes him a perpetual headache for the defenders to deal with, and it is what endears him to his teammates.

#10 Striker: Diego Costa - 6\'2\"

Diego Costa has become the striker always needed

At first glance, Diego Costa might not look as tall (or as young). However, with a height of 6”2, he easily makes this team. Had he not suffered from consistent injury setbacks, he would have most probably ended as the player with the most number of goals in the Premier League.

After being polished by Atletico Madrid into a world-class forward, Chelsea snapped him up to replace Didier Drogba and what a job he has done so far. After Didier Drogba, the Blues have signed numerous forwards and none of them could even come close to replicating the achievements of the Ivorian.

All that, however, has changed with the arrival of the Brazilian-born Spaniard.

#11 Left forward: Cristiano Ronaldo - 6\'1\"

Ronaldo's ability to get up high to head balls is very unique

This will be only best XI list where both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo don’t feature, as only Ronaldo fits the criterion.

Cristiano Ronaldo is rich, handsome, current Ballon d’Or holder and 6’1” tall. That is why he makes this list. By the time he retires, he will end up as one of the top 5 players to ever have played the game.

His insane ability to find the net from anywhere is an asset for any team that he represents. Also, none – not one player, can leap off the ground like he can. It is almost as if he is flying – and he probably would have been if it weren’t for the earth’s gravitational field.