Zinedine Zidane has singled out Romeo Lavia for praise following France's emphatic 4-1 victory over Belgium in the Nations League. Despite the visitors conceding four goals, the Chelsea midfielder made a significant impression on the French boss with his skill on the ball.
Belgium took an early lead in Paris through Dodi Lukebakio, with Lavia playing a crucial role by providing a brilliant assist.
The visitors held their advantage for much of the match until France turned the tide late on. In the 77th minute, Lucas Da Cunha levelled the scores, shortly followed by Michael Olise putting the hosts ahead. Desire Doue capped off the comeback with a late double in stoppage time.
Zidane admitted that while he wasn’t focusing solely on Lavia throughout the match, the midfielder's assist for Belgium’s goal did catch his eye.
The France manager stated:
I wasn’t monitoring his individual performance closely as my focus was primarily on my own players, but I certainly noticed his assist.
I reviewed that moment at half-time during our analysis. He’s a quality player.
However, Zidane was quick to point out that Lavia was far from Belgium's only threat.
He added:
He’s not the only talented player in the Belgian squad. They have many strong footballers, including those who came on as substitutes.
They will always provide challenges for us in future matches. We needed to respond to secure the win, and thankfully we did.
For Lavia, this season marks a notably more stable period compared to previous years. Following his £53 million transfer from Southampton to Chelsea in 2023, injuries significantly hindered his establishment in the first team, with just 29 Premier League appearances over three seasons.
Now, the Belgian has featured in four out of the first five league matches and is gradually finding his rhythm.
Last year, Cole Palmer spoke highly of his abilities:
I think he’s one of the best midfielders I’ve played with. People just haven't seen it yet because of his injuries.
I know him from our time at Manchester City. I think with time, everyone will realise he can become one of the best midfielders in the world.
