EPL: Koscielny announces retirement, blasts Deschamps

Arsenal defender, Laurent Koscielny, has confirmed his retirement from international football and taken a swipe at France boss Didier Deschamps in the process.

The 33-year-old suffered an achilles injury in the Gunners’ Europa League semi-final against Atletico Madrid at the end of last season and missed the World Cup as a result.

Koscielny has now admitted that France winning the tournament caused him a lot of “psychological damage”.

“France’s World Cup victory did me a lot more psychological damage than my injury did me.

“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,” he told Canal +.

Koscielny also hit out at Deschamps for not offering him any support during his injury worries.

“He 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.

“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 added.