“There’s a little tear which means I can’t take part in the tournament,” the 33-year-old said.

“I have a three week break ahead of me and the World Cup begins in two weeks. So my withdrawal is final,” added Karhan, who plays for Bundesliga club Mainz 05.

The former Wolfsburg and Besiktas player has 96 caps for Slovakia, scoring 13 goals.

The announcement came as Slovakia were pegged back by Cameroon as the two sides drew 1-1 in a pre-World Cup friendly.

Enoh Eyong’s goal seven minutes from time saw Cameroon escape with a draw after the Slovakians, who in a previous entity as Czechoslovakia reached the last eight in 1990, had taken the lead through Kamil Kopunek in the sixth minute.

Kopunek scored with a great strike from 18 metres out after being set up by Chelsea midfielder Miroslav Stoch, giving no chance to Cameroon goalkeeper Hamidou Souleymanou.

The Slovaks dominated the first-half against a Cameroon side still without their superstar striker Samuel Eto’o, who has been given time off since winning last Saturday’s Champions League title. The European team repelled Cameroon for most of the match, marshalled by Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel.

Slovakia (13/2 to win Group), who are in Group F at the finals in South Africa along with defending champions Italy, New Zealand and Paragua, could have taken a 2-0 lead but Stanislav Sestak’s shot rattled back off the crossbar.

Cameroon – who are in Group E for the June 11-July 11 tournament along with Denmark, Japan and the Netherlands – came back into the match after that and finally were rewarded when Ajax midfielder Eyong struck.

For Cameroon (80/1 to win the World Cup), the draw comes on the back of a 0-0 draw with non-qualifiers Georgia earlier in the week and they will be looking for a vastly-improved performance in their June 1 friendly with 2006 World Cup semi-finalists and fellow finalists Portugal in Covilha, Portugal.

They have a final friendly after that against fellow qualifiers Serbia on June 5 in Belgrade.

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