LAURENT KOSCIELNY has spoken out about missing France’s World Cup triumph through injury and revealed that at times he wanted them to lose.
The Arsenal centre-back, who retired from international football on Sunday, was sidelined for the tournament after rupturing his Achilles towards the end of last season.
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And the 33-year-old has revealed that missing the World Cup had a worse psychological effect than the injury itself.
Speaking to Canal+, the Gunners centre-back said: “The World Cup will remain a dark spot of my career.
“The injury was hard to accept. The result was even harder because they won the World Cup.
“I have a selfish side. I tell myself that I could have been part of the adventure and won the Cup.
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“And I would have it in a corner of my head for the rest my life.
“I was really happy for them, but also disgusted.
“You can not feel like a world champion, as the 60 million French could.
“It’s a strange feeling that during the tournament I wanted them to qualify, but at the same time I wanted them to lose.”
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Koscielny, who made 51 appearances for the world champions, also spoke of his dissapointment with France coach Didier Deschamps.
He said: “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.
“Deschamps called me once for my birthday in September. Otherwise, no. Lots of people disappointed me. Not only the coach.”
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Deschamps said he was “surprised” that Koscielny accused him of a lack of support during his injury but admitted he could have offered more.
He said: “I understand his enormous disappointment. I was surprised, like the rest of the staff.
“I reached out for an update in September. That, at a bare minimum, I did. I could have done more.
“He has been injured by this, he is marked for life. There are most things but it will not change what I think of Lolo as both a player and a man. He is someone with great values.”
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The defender is now focusing on his recovery and is determined to get back into the Arsenal line-up.
He said: “I have a new state of mind, there was the Laurent before, and the Laurent after.
“I want to continue to Arsenal, and come back quickly, I do not know what level I can have, but I want to fight.”
