Arsenal captain Laurent Koscielny claims he wanted France to lose at the 2018 FIFA World Cup as he announced his international retirement.
Koscielny, 33, was a regular within Les Blues starting XI, winning 25 caps between 2016-2018 but was cruelly ruled out of the tournament through injury.
And as he announced his retirement from the World Champions in an international career that began back in 2011, he’s explained how watching from home affected his confidence.
“I think I gave all I could to the France team. France have a beautiful generation with great players – Les Bleus are finished for me,” he said in an interview with Canal+.
“I will always be a supporter of France because it remains a team that represents our country, but I will not wear the blue jersey.
“I wanted France to progress [at the World Cup] and at the same time I wanted them to lose. It’s selfish, but it’s life. Some people will say, ‘What do you mean, he wanted France to lose?’ But that was my feeling at that moment.
“I think France’s victory did me more psychological damage than my injury.”
The Gunners superstar went on to express his disdain and frustration with head coach Didier Deschamps, in what he considered as poor communication.
“He sent me a text for my birthday in September, otherwise I did not have contact with him,” he said,
“Many people I thought were close to me disappointed me. There are many other people, not just the coach. There are even other coaches.
“It feels like being hit around the back of the head.”