Roméo Lavia delivered a masterclass for the Red Devils against France, completing all 39 of his passes. Following a 3.5-year gap plagued by 631 days of injuries at Chelsea, the midfielder's long-awaited full debut in Brussels has firmly established his central role under coach Mark van Bommel.
Roméo Lavia and the Red Devils have finally reunited on the pitch. Exactly 3.5 years after making his international debut under Domenico Tedesco with a brief ten-minute appearance against Germany, the Chelsea midfielder secured his first international start at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels, according to reporting from Sporza.
A 100% Passing Masterclass Against France
Lavia’s return to the national team followed a cautious fifteen-minute substitute appearance against Italy earlier in the international period. Facing France in Brussels, the midfielder put on a statistical masterclass, successfully connecting on all 39 passes he attempted, as documented by Sofascore data cited by Sporza. Beyond safe sideways distribution, Lavia injected splitting forward passes into the attack, excelled in defensive recovery, and even cleared a ball off the goal line.
Reflecting on the match in the stadium catacombs, Lavia admitted to experiencing goosebumps during the Belgian national anthem, noting the significance of playing in Brussels where he grew up. Though disappointed by a late conceded goal, he kept his assessment grounded.
I don’t like to talk about myself when the result isn’t good. The past few years? I’d rather not talk about that either, I prefer to look ahead. Right now I feel great.
Overcoming 631 Days in the Chelsea Infirmary
That forward-looking mindset is hard-earned. Lavia’s career with the national team spent nearly three and a half years on hold due to a relentless sequence of injuries that forced him to spend a staggering 631 days in Chelsea’s medical room. Prior to his current return under coach Mark van Bommel, analysts often lamented what might have been. In late 2024, analyst Filip Joos remarked on 90 Minutes that if Lavia had belonged to Belgium’s golden generation, the squad would have won the World Cup.
Now fully fit following intensive preparation—having noted in prior interviews with Play Sports and the BBC that he did everything possible to prepare for a decisive season and that athletes can always push beyond perceived limits—Lavia has instantly transformed into an automatic selection when available.
Praise from Teammates and Coach Mark van Bommel
Lavia’s impact on his peers was immediate. Brandon Mechele praised the midfielder’s proactive style in an interview with rights holder VTM, calling him a number six who thinks forward when he is on the ball and a real ball-winner who never gives up. Captain Youri Tielemans added that Lavia’s ability to thread balls between the lines makes playing alongside him significantly easier.
Coach Mark van Bommel described the young midfielder’s performance as more than excellent after the match, noting he considered substituting Lavia earlier but kept him on because he dictated the tempo of the team’s play.
I’m glad Roméo is fit now and we want to keep it that way primarily. Friday I cannot start Roméo. That is with the situation he has come from in mind. Putting Roméo in for four full games… That wouldn’t be good for anyone.
A brief late-match scare on Monday evening—when Lavia hit the turf with a painful grimace—turned out to be nothing more than cramps. Even so, the moment served as a sharp reminder of the caution required to manage his fitness history and prevent a sporadic relationship from becoming the long-term fixture the Red Devils desperately need.
Читайте также
