Hakan Yakin calls time on Switzerland

Hakan Yakin has announced his retirement from international football after scoring 20 goals in 87 appearances for Switzerland, playing at the finals of UEFA EURO 2004, UEFA EURO 2008 and the 2006 and 2010 FIFA World Cups.

The FC Luzern forward, who also revealed he will join AC Bellinzona next summer, said: "The lads in the national team are doing a great job at the moment; I don't want to stand in anybody's way." National coach Ottmar Hitzfeld paid tribute to Yakin, saying: "Hakan was an outstanding player who delivered superb performances for Switzerland."

The 34-year-old, whose older brother Murat also played 49 times for the country as a defender, made his last international outing in Switzerland's 0-0 friendly draw against Malta on 9 February this year.

At club level, Yakin – in his third term with Swiss Super League leaders Luzern – has represented FC Basel 1893, FC St Gallen, Grasshopper-Club and BSC Young Boys, in addition to spells at German side VfB Stuttgart and Galatasaray AŞ, in his parents' native Turkey. He has signed a six-year contract with Bellinzona from 2012, which will see him play and then act as an ambassador for a new stadium in the Swiss canton of Ticino after he hangs up his boots.

Switzerland hope to earn a UEFA EURO 2012 play-off place over the next week. If they pick up more points in Wales on Friday than Montenegro do at home to England, Switzerland could yet overhaul Group G's second-placed side with a victory against the Montenegrins in Basel next Tuesday.