UEFA continues honoring the players who have reached 100 appearances for his country and is giving them a new hat and a commemorative medal that has been delivered in six matches this week across Europe.
After the first series of deliveries take place on Friday, a total of 16 players received the new award of the cap of 100 games during the qualifying matches on Tuesday for the UEFA EURO 2012 and also in the friendly between Poland and Germany. Among the winners were players active and retired:
• Andreas Herzog, Austria - Turkey, Vienna
• Martin Reim, Marko Kristal, Mart Poom, Andres Oper, Kristen Viikmäe, Raio Piiroja, Indrek Zelinski: Estonia - Northern Ireland, Tallinn
• Sami Hyypiä, Jonatan Johansson: Finland - Netherlands, Helsinki
• Rúnar Kristinsson, Iceland - Cyprus, Reykjavik
• Michał Żewłakow: Poland - Germany, Gdansk
• Dorinel Munteanu, Gheorghe Hagi, Gheorghe Popescu, László Bologna: Romania - France, Bucharest
The midfielder was with Austria Andreas Herzog, who represented his country 103 times before retiring in 2003, he received his cap and commemorative medal from the hand of Michel Platini. "" It's a great honor to have Michel Platini handed me this award. When I started playing was my role model and has been responsible for giving me this award is unbelievable. "That shows to play over 100 games for your country is something very special. The award is place them in a special place in my house, "said Herzog told UEFA.com.
Meanwhile defender Michal Zewlakow, which added its international number 102 with Poland last March, said: "I want to thank UEFA for honoring this. For a moment I felt again that is part the national team. I've played 102 international games during my career so I have not wasted your time. It is also a great honor to receive this award from the hand of the president of the Polish Football Federation Grzegorz Lato, with 100 international games his back is a legend. The idea of rewarding players with more than 100 games is fantastic. "
Another member was awarded Sami Hyypiä, who hung up his boots last May after 105 caps. "" Looking back, 100 games are many and I feel very honored to receive this award. It has great memories of these years I've played with Finland. "It's something I will never forget," said Hyypiä.
It was against Finland when Indrek Zelinski Estonian striker played his 103 game and internationally, which meant his farewell to the national team in May 2010. Like their peers in this centenary year, Zelinski was delighted to return to center stage last night: "I was happy to see old friends and former colleagues. It's great that UEFA has established this award to the players who tested both their teams. "
The Romanian Dorinel Munteanu played 134 appearances for his country between 1991 and 2007, and welcomed this initiative by the UEFA. "It was a pleasant surprise for me. We talked a lot about money and the benefits of football, but recognition like this, especially coming from the highest authority of European football, has great value. I'm very proud of my work and my effort is valued so much, "said former player.
UEFA announced to give this special award to the European international numbering more than 100 matches for their country late last month approved the proposal of the UEFA Executive Committee in June. Among the winners last Friday was the former Northern Ireland goalkeeper Pat Jennings or family of the late Jozsef Bozsik Hungarian midfielder.
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