Kristijan Jakic

Kristijan Jakic is Croatia's dependable defensive midfielder — a ball-winner who does the unglamorous work that allows more creative teammates to function. He built his reputation at Dinamo Zagreb before earning a Bundesliga move to Eintracht Frankfurt, where he contributed to their 2022 Europa League triumph. Now at Augsburg, he remains a reliable presence in Germany's top flight. For the national team, Jakic slots in as a disciplined screen in front of the back four, comfortable recycling possession without taking unnecessary risks — the kind of player coaches trust in knockout football precisely because he rarely makes the decisive mistake.