Belgium coach praises Roméo Lavia after loss to France

The coach of the Red Devils, Mark van Bommel, chose to highlight Roméo Lavia's performance after Belgium's defeat to France on Monday, noting that the young midfielder was "fantastic" during the 88 minutes in which the Red Devils kept a clean sheet.

A compliment in the heart of a defeat

Christophe Franken recalled that Roméo Lavia expressed "pride in having played again after three years". Van Bommel, who is not the type to get worked up after a win like in Rome on Friday, also clarified that he was not sulking after the loss in Brussels on Monday.

He added that Belgium showed intensity and did everything that was required, even though chances became scarce. According to him, the match was lost on a detail, similar to the defeat against Spain at the World Cup.

Van Bommel defends Belgium's performance versus France, admits defeat

Technical analysis and outlook

The coach explained that the decision not to bring on Romelu Lukaku was driven by the search for speed, opting for Matias Fernandez‑Pardo as a replacement. He also mentioned the need to monitor each player's minutes, citing Roméo Lavia and Mika Godts as examples of high‑level performances without the ball.

Van Bommel reminded that the goal remains the Euro in two years, while acknowledging that France is ahead. He highlighted that Charles De Ketelare was very good, even against strong defenders, and that Hans Van Aken's rise shows the squad's depth.

Roméo Lavia's debut shows he could dominate Belgium for 15 years

Finally, the coach indicated that the upcoming week in France will be an opportunity to apply the same pressure, while noting that Moreira's suspension against Turkey will complicate the selections for the next match.