Defender Christoph Spycher has pulled out of Switzerland's World Cup squad

Defender Christoph Spycher has pulled out of Switzerland's World Cup squad because of a knee injury and quit international football.

The Eintracht Frankfurt player said: "I had no other choice but to inform the coach that he must plan without me.

"I've had a great time with the national team but now it's over."

Spycher, 32, is one of Switzerland's most experienced players with 47 caps, having played at Euro 2004 and 2008 and the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

He injured his knee during a Bundesliga match against Borussia Moenchengladbach on 10 April.

Switzerland, who are in Group H alongside Spain, Chile and Honduras in South Africa, have called 31-year-old Ludovic Magnin of FC Zurich into their 23-man squad in his place.