Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny has announced his retirement from international football. Koscielny made his debut for France in 2011 against Brazil. He has since then played 51 matches for France, scoring a goal against Scotland in a friendly at Metz in 2016.
Koscielny played at the 2014 World Cup and in two European Championships. He played a crucial role in France’s run to the final in Euro 2016. Before the World Cup this summer, Koscielny said that he would retire from international football following the tournament. However, he suffered an Achilles tendon injury during Arsenal’s Europa League semi-final leg against Atletico Madrid and was ruled out of the tournament. France eventually won the tournament by defeating Croatia in the final.
Koscielny said that France winning the World Cup caused him more mental damage than the injury did. The 33-year old also took a dig at France coach Didier Deschamps. He said, “I think that I have given everything I can for France, I am 33, I have done two Euros, one World Cup. France has a great generation of great players now. My injury does not change my decision. For Les Bleus, it is finished.
When you are in good form, you have lots of friends. When you are injured… after a certain period of time, you are forgotten about. He [Deschamps] called me once for my birthday in September. Otherwise, no. Lots of people disappointed me. Not only the coach. It feels like a hit on the back of the head. France’s World Cup victory did me a lot more psychological damage than my injury did me.”
Koscielny is currently Arsenal’s captain but his injury has prevented him from playing this season. However, he should be back in action for Arsenal soon.
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