It was a little man who lifted Germany to the heavens at the Maracana in 2014, but it was height that snatched them another piece of FIFA World Cup™ history.
Joachim Low elected to operate Philipp Lahm, his smallest soldier, in midfield and field a defence that comprised Per Mertesacker (1.98m), Jerome Boateng (1.92m), Mats Hummels (1.91m) and Benedikt Howedes (1.87m) for Germany’s opener against Portugal. Their combined height was a staggering seven metres and 68 centimetres – taller than an average two-storey house and a record for a back four in the competition.
“I think [height] is important,” said Low. “It helps in some defensive situations and with set-pieces.”
“We’re definitely a big team,” said Toni Kroos, who was ‘only’ 1.83m. “I think it’s an advantage. We’ve been working on a lot of set-pieces.”
It paid off just 32 minutes into their campaign. Hummels’ thumping header from a Kroos corner helped them thrash Portugal 4-0.
Boateng, Mertesacker, Hummels and Howedes started Germany’s three group games together, helping them keep two clean sheets. A fever caused Hummels to miss the last-16 meeting with Algeria, with Shkodran Mustafi deputising, before Lahm slotted into right-back for the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final.
Daniel Passarella (1.73m) and Luis Galvan (1.74m) formed the atomic centre-back pairing that helped Argentina win the World Cup in 1978. It was the big boys, however, that conquered their countrymen at its 20th edition.
Germany, at 185.3m, had the tallest average squad at Brazil 2014, and it was Mertesacker, Boateng, Hummels, Howedes and Co who stood tallest on its podium.
