Laurent Koscielny has been ruled out of France’s international friendly against Colombia this evening and is a doubt for the game against Russia next week.
Koscielny limped off after just 11 minutes during Arsenal’s Europa League win over AC Milan last week due to a back problem. France called him up expecting him to be fit to feature in tonight’s game, but after the problem did not clear up as quickly as first expected, Didier Deschamps has decided not to risk playing the 32-year-old.
Koscielny is no longer first choice for France as Real Madrid’s Raphael Varane and Barcelona’s Samuel Umtiti look to be Deschamps’ preferred duo but he was still likely to play some part in the game.
The Arsenal man hasn’t been ruled out of the clash with Russia yet but with the Gunners set to face Stoke City on Saturday, Arsene Wenger be hoping that France don’t risk playing him.
