Barcelona captain Carles Puyol has withdrawn from the Spain squad for the upcoming matches against Liechtenstein and Argentina because of injury.

The 32-year-old defender was forced out of the national team's first training session today complaining of pain in his left leg and he has returned home to Barcelona, where he will undergo more tests tomorrow.

Spain coach Vicente del Bosque has called up Osasuna defender Nacho Monreal as Puyol's replacement in his 21-man squad.

The reigning world and European champions play Liechtenstein in their opening UEFA EURO 2012 qualifier in Vaduz on Friday before meeting Argentina in a friendly match in Buenos Aires four days later.