Isaak Toure - the tallest player in the top five leagues - and Lorenzo Lucca - third in the same standings - have a lot to do with the slump of the Friuli team so far this season. The defender has seen two red cards from his last four games in Serie A, while the striker counts a sole goal in over two months as Udinese look to turn their fortunes around in Monday night's clash at Monza.
The Friuli side found themselves at the summit of the Italian top flight after four rounds - for the first time in 13 years - but are now down in 10th place after going winless in their last five outings. This poor run of form - the worst in Serie A alongside bottom-placed Venezia - can be narrowed down to two players who are among the podium for tallest footballers in Europe's top leagues.
Isaak Toure is the first - and arguably the scapegoat. The defender (2.06m) is the tallest among any footballers playing in the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga and Ligue 1 and is responsible for leaving his team with one man down twice in their last four fixtures. The Liorent loanee was sent off 53 minutes into the game at Venezia with the scoreline reading 1-2 for Udinese. The hosts equalised just three minutes after the defender left the pitch before sealing the game late on from the penalty spot.
Toure was suspended against Juventus, with Udinese losing 0-2, and returned for the trip to Atalanta. Kamara put the Friulli team ahead before Pasalic levelled just over ten minutes into the second half. But a 60th-minute own goal from Toure condemned Runjaic's men to another defeat. In the draw against Empoli after the international break, the centre-back managed to play the full 90 minutes without causing any trouble as Udinese secured their only point of this bad run, but tragedy struck when Genoa paid a visit to Udine.
The 21-year-old threw away any chance for his team to recover from their abysmal form within four minutes of play. Toure was cautioned for an elbow to the face but following VAR intervention, the decision from referee Aureliano changed to a straight red card, leaving the hosts with a numerical advantage that the visitors seized to win 2-0. As a result, Toure will not be available to Kosta Runjac for tonight's clash at Monza.