‘Quality player’ – Zinedine Zidane praises Chelsea star after France beat Belgium

France boss and Real Madrid legend Zinedine Zidane (Picture: Getty)

Zinedine Zidane singled out ‘quality’ Chelsea midfielder Romeo Lavia after France’s Nations League win over Belgium.

France scored four goals in the final 13 minutes to come from behind and beat Belgium 4-1 in Paris.

The visitors led for almost an hour through Dodi Lukebakio’s first-half opener but Lucas Da Cunha scored a deserved equaliser on 77 minutes.

Michael Olise put France ahead just four minutes later before Desire Doue bagged an injury-time brace to keep Les Bleus top of Nations League Group 1.

Chelsea’s Lavia impressed in Belgium’s midfield, providing the assist for Lukebakio’s opener, and Zidane took note of his performance.

‘I didn’t watch his individual performance because I was keeping an eye on my own players, but I really liked his pass,’ Zidane said when asked about Lavia’s assist.

‘I watched it again in the changing room at half-time, during the analysis. He’s a quality player. But he’s not the only one in the Belgian team.

Chelsea’s Romeo Lavia in action for Belgium (Picture: Getty)

‘There are plenty of them, even amongst those who came on as substitutes. They’ll always cause us problems when we face them again. We needed to show a reaction to win, and it’s good that we did.’

Chelsea had high hopes for Lavia after they spent £53m to sign him from relegated Southampton in 2023.

But the 22-year-old suffered reoccurring injury issues during his first three seasons at Stamford Bridge, making just 29 Premier League appearances during that period.

France came from behind to beat Belgium (Picture: Getty)

Lavia has featured in four of Chelsea’s five league games so far this season, however, earning rave reviews for his performances.

Chelsea teammate Cole Palmer, for example, believes Lavia can develop into one of the ‘best midfielders in the world’ despite his fitness issues.

‘I think he’s one of the best midfielders I’ve played with, to be honest,’ Palmer told Sky Sports last year.

‘Everyone hasn’t seen it because he’s been injured, obviously I knew him at [Manchester] City. I think everyone will realise, I think he will be one of the best midfielders in the world.

‘He’s been injured so it’s been difficult for him. But I think the games he has played this season you see what difference he’s made.

‘I think when he has a full season playing and staying fit I think everyone will realise.’

Chelsea, who are just 10th in the Premier League, play their first game in three weeks on Saturday when Bournemouth travel to west London.

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