MX23RW : Thursday, March 20 21:08:47| >> :60:1054:1054:

Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny: 'France's World Cup win hurt me'

Koscielny: 'France World Cup win hurt me'
© Reuters
Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny says that he found it difficult to watch France win the World Cup while he was sidelined with an Achilles injury.

Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny has said that France's World Cup triumph in the summer left him "psychologically hurt".

Koscielny had been a regular in the France squad since 2011, but the centre-back suffered an Achilles injury just weeks before the start of the tournament.

The 33-year-old is yet to return to action with the Gunners, but after announcing his retirement from international football, Koscielny has revealed his anguish after watching on from the sidelines.

Koscielny told Canal+: "The injury is one thing, the victory of the World Cup is another. I think the victory certainly made me much more psychologically hurt than my injury.

"I think I gave the France team what I could. For me, my injury has not changed anything. The Blues are over, after that, I will always be a supporter of the French team but what is certain is that I will not put on the blue jersey.

"I have a new state of mind, there will be the Laurent before and the Laurent after injury. I want to continue to Arsenal, I want to return quickly. I want to fight."

Koscielny is currently training with the North London outfit ahead of a possible return before the end of 2018.

ID:338603: cacheID:338603:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:1980:
Written by
Darren Plant
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Unai Emery gives his instructions during the pre-season friendly between Arsenal and Atletico Madrid on July 26, 2018
Read Next:
How Arsenal could line up against Qarabag FK
>
Read more about Laurent Koscielny Football
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool29217169274270
2Arsenal291610353242958
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest29166749351454
4Chelsea29147853371649
5Manchester CityMan City29146955401548
6Newcastle UnitedNewcastle2814594738947
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton29121164842647
8Fulham2912984338545
9Aston Villa2912984145-445
10Bournemouth29128948361244
11Brentford29125125045541
12Crystal Palace2810993633339
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd29107123740-337
14Tottenham HotspurSpurs291041555431234
15Everton2971393236-434
16West Ham UnitedWest Ham2997133349-1634
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2975174058-1826
18Ipswich TownIpswich2938182862-3417
19Leicester CityLeicester2945202565-4017
20Southampton2923242170-499


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!