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The 25-year-old defender was named in national coach Alain Moizan’s 50-strong preliminary squad in August last year, but says his professional commitments prevented him from joining up with Les Cagous.
“I had just started in Ligue 1, it fell badly for me,” Lautoa says.
“To play the Oceania World Cup qualifiers in March against New Zealand and Tahiti would mean I would miss championship matches with Lorient. I can’t, at the moment, allow that. But I follow the results and I’m hoping that it goes well for them.”
Born in Épernay, a town situated in the Champagne region of northern France, Lautoa’s links to New Caledonia have been inherited through his family.
After toughing it out at French fourth division clubs Épernay and Compiègne the defender eventually caught the eye of professional Ligue 2 side Sedan.
In early 2012 he made the leap to the French top flight, signing a four-and-a-half year deal at FC Lorient in northwest France.
His debut season was a difficult one, rife with injury, but since recovering and returning to the field this term he has earned the confidence of coach Christian Gourcuff – and the captain’s armband along with it.
“It really is a pleasure, to have the club and the coach, count on me. But I don’t worry about all of that,” he says.
“I try to enjoy every match and to make progress – that’s all.”
A strong start to the season has seen FC Lorient leap to fifth on the Ligue 1 table and, while the side is currently experiencing a slump in form, Lautoa believes qualification for the UEFA Champions League remains on the cards.
“We made a great start to the championship with a series of seven wins without a loss,” Lautoa says.
“I think it is thanks to us having started a week or two earlier than certain teams. We were able to find our rhythm quickly thanks to our long preparations.
“With 31 points and fifth place on the table we have the desire to be ambitious and to go after the best place possible, without taking ourselves for something we are not,” he says.
“Obviously we are thinking of Europe. But we need to remain unfazed. I don’t see us changing our state of mind.”
Lorient’s next match is this Saturday against Estac Troyes – the club of Les Cagous striker Georges Gopes-Fenepej.
However, the pair are unlikely to meet in the encounter with Gopes-Fenepej yet to make a first-team appearance for the side he joined in June 2012.