Serbia and Montenegro defender Mladen Krstajic has announced that he will retire from international football after the World Cup.

The 32-year-old Schalke 04 star has opted to bring forward his decision so that he can concentrate on prolonging his club career in the Bundesliga.

"I had planned to stay on to play in the Euro 2008 tournament in Austria and Switzerland, but Wednesday will now be my last game for my country," he told Bild.

"It's time for some youngsters to be given a chance and I will now concentrate fully on playing for Schalke."

Krstajic picked up three domestic title winners' medals during a five-year spell with Partizan Belgrade before joining Werder Bremen in 2000.

He gained a reputation as one of Europe's leading defenders by starring in Werder's double winning season of 2003-04 before moving to Schalke that summer.