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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.

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