10 Toughest Centre Backs At World Cup 2018
Strikers will struggle to get past these guys.
A successful team can’t just rely on good goalscorers to make it all the way in a big competition like the World Cup. As past winners have proven time and time again, you need a talented all-round squad to get to that final and lift the trophy at the end of it.
And the best teams start at the back. Central defenders are vital to the strength and success of any squad. Often among the toughest players on the pitch, these defenders generally need to be tall, physically imposing, good in the air, and also tend to be natural-born leaders too.
The last World Cup was memorable for featuring a record-high number of goals, with 171 strikes in total, and it’s always exciting to see the ball hitting the back of the net at both ends of the pitch, but it can also be entertaining watching the world’s elite defenders doing what they do best.
This summer, a lot of pressure will be resting on the shoulders of these players, and they’ll need to use all of their skills and experience to outwit some of the very best goalscorers on the planet.
10. Kalidou Koulibaly (Senegal)
Standing at 6ft 5, Kalidou Koulibaly is one of the most physically imposing players set to appear at the World Cup, and he also happens to be one of the best and most versatile defenders in the world right now. Despite his size and strength, Koulibaly actually moves with astonishing grace and agility and is one of the most technically-gifted defenders fans will have the joy of watching this summer.
Highly admired for his careful and composed approach to defending, Koulibaly reads the game exceptionally well and has earned the nickname "The Wall", as well as being called "the best defender in Serie A" by Diego Maradona himself. Born in France, he played for the French U20 side in his youth and Didier Deschamps wanted him with the senior squad too, but Koulibaly chose to turn out for his parents' homeland of Senegal instead.
Consistently linked with big-money moves, Koulibaly has been at Napoli since 2014 and has played a huge part in the club's great performances in Italy and in European competition. He's an absolute rock for Senegal too and will need to be at his very best to help the team negotiate a tricky group featuring Colombia, Poland, and Japan.