The Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny has announced the end of his international career with France and criticised the World Cup-winning manager, Didier Deschamps.
The 33-year-old missed the World Cup with an achilles injury and had intended to retire from international duty after the tournament.
Koscielny told Canal+: “I think that I have given everything I can for France. My injury does not change my decision. For Les Bleus it is finished.”
He announced his intention to retire from France duty in November 2017 but confirmed it on Sunday as he explained the pain of missing out on the World Cup success.
“France’s World Cup victory did me a lot more psychological damage than my injury did me,” he said.
Koscielny, however, was critical of Deschamps, suggesting he felt unwanted by the coach. “He called me once for my birthday in September. Otherwise, no [contact].
“Lots of people disappointed me. Not only the coach. It feels like a hit on the back of the head. 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.”
Koscielny, who has 51 caps, was injured in Arsenal’s Europa League semi-final defeat against Atlético Madrid in May and is still recovering.
