PARIS, Oct 1: French defender Jeremy Mathieu is quitting international football to focus on his club career with Barcelona.
A day after he was removed from the France squad for upcoming World Cup qualifiers, Mathieu told Saturday's edition of L'Equipe newspaper that he lacks "the motivation to keep going."
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France coach Didier Deschamps did not specify why he had removed Mathieu from the squad.
The 32-year-old Mathieu, who has five caps with France, missed the European Championship this year because of a calf injury.
Mathieu said he wants to make room for the younger players who will be playing at the 2018 World Cup if France qualifies.
France hosts Bulgaria on Oct. 7 at the Stade de France before traveling to play the Netherlands three days later in Group A.
