The Arsenal defender also explained why he did not want France to win the World Cup.

French defender Laurent Koscielny has officially announced his retirement from the national team. The 33-year-old center-back was forced to sit out Les Bleus' triumphant campaign at the 2018 World Cup after suffering an Achilles injury.

Having previously decided to retire after the end of the tournament, Kosceinly explained that France's World Cup win caused more psychological damage to him than his injury.

"I think I gave all I could to the France team. France has a beautiful generation with great players – Les Bleus are finished for me," the defender told 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.

"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 further highlighted his disenchantment with the little support he received from his national team boss Didier Deschamps following his injury.

"He [Deschamps] sent me a text for my birthday in September, otherwise, I did not have contact with him," said the center-back.

"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."

Laurent Koscielny finishes his career with the French national team with 51 caps under his belt. The 33-year-old was part of the illustrious team which lost to Portugal in the final of EURO 2016 hosted in France.