From the beginnig i believed that these things matters , tall st or tall gk or short winger/inside foward etc.. but the problem is that we can't see this things in the animation ( if we have 3D we will notice something for sure ) but the engine "seems" to put this data in calculation . Btw 1.80m is not short ^^ ( personally i'm 1,91m) you can call Messi short.
"even if had the correct foot and a benefit for his position", I partially agree with this, AMR and AML they perform better with the opposite foot cause they often cut it and shoot ( personally i prefer players capable with both ), instead is good to have a DL, MR ( or DR , MR opposite ) with left foot beacuse their duty is only (mostly) to cross the ball