Laurent Koscielny to retire from France duty after World Cup
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Published 07/11/2017 at 17:34 GMT
Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny has confirmed that he plans to retire from France duty at the end of the 2018 World Cup.
France's defender Laurent Koscielny arrives for a press conference in Clairefontaine-en-Yvelines near Paris on November 7, 2017 as part of the France national team's preparation for the friendly football matches against Wales and Germany
Image credit: Getty Images
Koscielny, 32, made his debut for the national team in 2011 during his first season with Arsenal and he has gone on to make 49 appearances, scoring once.
"Yes I think (I will retire from France),” the defender said at a press conference on Tuesday.
"I have six months left to enjoy my time with France. After that, it will be time to give my place to young players behind me.
"I think I have done what I wanted to do in this team. I will make the most of these memories until June."
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France's defender Laurent Koscielny gives a press conference in Clairefontaine-en-Yvelines near Paris on November 7, 2017 as part of the France national team's preparation for the friendly football matches against Wales and Germany.
Image credit: Getty Images
Koscielny will go to the World Cup in contention to start along with Real Madrid’s Raphael Varane and Samuel Umtiti of Barcelona.
France reached the quarter-finals of the 2014 World Cup and were the runners-up at the European Championships in 2016, where they lost to Portugal in the final.
They are considered to be one of the favourites for the tournament next year in Russia along with the likes of Germany, Brazil, Argentina and Spain.
France will play friendly matches against Wales and Germany in the upcoming international matches.
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