File- Eintracht Frankfurt team celebrating, ReutersAFP - Eintracht Frankfurt's Serbia striker Luka Jovic may have grabbed the headlines and turned the heads of Europe's top clubs with his goals this season, but he is just one of a trio of brilliant Balkans in Frankfurt's ranks.Alongside 21-year-old talent Jovic, Croatia forward Ante Rebic, 25, and Serbian wing-back Filip Kostic, 26, make up a blistering Balkan trio who have helped fire unfancied Frankfurt into the semi-finals of the Europa League, where they face Chelsea in the first leg on Thursday.While Jovic has earned plaudits in the Bundesliga and beyond with his form in front of goal, Rebic has remained the beating heart of Frankfurt’s attack, and Kostic has gone from relegation flop to European success story.The three players are emblematic of Frankfurt’s success in recent years, the result of dedicated hard work, clever transfers and fearless football.- Goals galore -The Balkan triumvirate have scored over half of Frankfurt’s 58 Bundesliga goals this season, and added 21 league assists for good measure. They have been involved in all but one of Frankfurt’s last 13 goals in all competitions.In fact, German pundits have become so used to praising Jovic, Kostic and Rebic that they have even begun to forget the names of their team mates. "When I arrived, the perception was that he was a bottom-drawer player, and I didn’t understand it," said Huetter in February. "Now he is in the top drawer. "Kostic has since been linked with Inter Milan, and as with Rebic and Jovic, Frankfurt can hope to make a significant profit if and when they sell him.For now, though, the focus is on Chelsea and a chance to make history.The last time the club made a European final, in 1980, Croatia and Serbia were still part of Yugoslavia.Forty years on, the Balkan trio are out to write a new chapter for Frankfurt.

Source: Egypt Today May 01, 2019 00:45 UTC