Koscielny forced out of France training

PARIS (AFP) –

French national football team’s defender Laurent Koscielny (C) receives medical assistance during a training session in Clairefontaine-en-Yvelines, outside Paris. France centre-back Laurent Koscielny could be in doubt for Friday’s friendly with Japan after injuring his right knee at the end of a training session on Thursday.

France centre-back Laurent Koscielny could be in doubt for Friday’s friendly with Japan after injuring his right knee at the end of a training session on Thursday.

After a collision with Franck Ribery, the Arsenal defender had to cut short his involvement in the training session and was helped off the pitch by two physiotherapists.

The news arrives at a bad time for France coach Didier Deschamps, who had been intending to field Koscielny alongside Paris Saint-Germain’s Mamadou Sakho in Friday’s game at Stade de France.

With Montpellier’s Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa suspended, Koscielny is also in line to partner Sakho in Tuesday’s key World Cup qualifier against Spain in Madrid.