Arsenal: Laurent Koscielny can re-channel World Cup disappointment

Laurent Koscielny has expressed a severe disappointment at missing out on France’s successful World Cup endeavours in the summer. The Arsenal defender must now re-channel that disappointment as he returns to fitness.

It was a horrible injury for Laurent Koscielny. Not only was it sure-fire proof that his body, which had always threatened at the possibility, was beginning to betray him in insurmountable ways now that he was 32, but it came just 44 days before France’s first World Cup group match against Australia. For Koscielny, the World Cup was over.

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He then had to watch as his teammates and friends proceded to meander their way through the tournament, all the way to the final, eventually lifting the trophy for the second time in the nation’s history, all while Koscielny was hobbled up on his sofa.

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Koscielny is still rehabbing from that same ruptured Achilles. He will be for another month or two. You would be forgiven for forgetting his existence, both nationally and domestically. And for Koscielny, it was this shunting to the shadows that hurt him the most. As he announced his retirement from international football, Koscielny revealed a deep bitterness and disappointment regarding how the summer played out:

"“France’s World Cup victory did me a lot more psychological damage than my injury did me. He [Didier Dechamps] called me once for my birthday in September. Otherwise, no [contact]. 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.”"

The psychological pain that he felt — and probably still feels — is a strange one. It’s not that he is not happy and supportive of his teammates. But the sweetness of victory is tinged by the sourness of absence. For Koscielny, it is the sour that overpowers the sweet.

The Arsenal defender, now 33, is preparing to return to training in November. He should be with the first team by the end of the month and hopefully available for selection once more on a regular basis by the end of the calendar year. It remains to be seen what role he will be utilised upon his return, but I am sure that Unai Emery will welcome another vastly experienced body.

For Koscielny, it is important that he is able to use the disappointment of the World Cup as a motivating factor for his future. At his ever-increasing age, it would be easy to reflect and regret. But Koscielny has never seemed like that character. He wants to play football matches and win football competitions. For that, he must continue to look forward.

Koscielny’s summer did not go how he would have wanted. It will likely haunt him for many years to come. But it does not have to cast a cloud over his return to the pitch. He can use it, motivate himself by it, re-channel it. It’s time for Koscielny to look forwards.