In Paris, Roméo Lavia shows what the golden generation was missing
Still present in Paris, Roméo Lavia, Chelsea midfielder, shone again against the Blues after a first remarkable performance against France. Despite Belgium's second defeat, he appears as one of the biggest beneficiaries of this break. His influence is measured both by his creation and by his resistance to French pressure.
A decisive assist for Lukebakio
The positive feeling does not come solely from the overall performance, but especially from Lavia's decisive pass to Dodi Lukebakio. Receiving the ball five metres from his own goal, he lifted his eyes, sensed the call and sent a sharp pass between the French lines. Lukebakio simply finished, making the 0‑1 the most visible proof of Lavia's talent.
Deployed as a defensive midfielder, Lavia does not play the classic number 6 role. He behaves more like a number 10 who operates a few metres higher, combining technique under pressure and vision of spaces before the opponents. This duality makes him hard to fit into traditional schemes.
Comparison with Axel Witsel
Observers compare him to Axel Witsel, the quiet engine of the Belgian golden generation. Witsel provided balance, linking the defence to players such as Kevin De Bruyne, Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku, and was considered essential to the national structure. Lavia shares this sense of positioning, but adds an extra technical dimension.
Lavia has the technique to create solutions under pressure, the intelligence to see spaces before his opponents and the personality to claim the ball when the situation becomes complicated. He senses an opponent arriving behind him without having to constantly look back. His ball control exceeds that expected of an attacking midfielder.
Defensively, he shows a keen sense of interception, reads the trajectories and immediately launches the transition. He controls the ball under pressure, eliminates two opponents with a single move, then accelerates to deliver a forward pass. As long as Lavia remains involved, Belgium has a player capable of breaking the first French press.
This ability to combine offensive daring with defensive solidity explains why he is seen as one of the biggest beneficiaries of the break. The contrast between his traditional role and his real impact highlights what the golden generation could sometimes lack.