100-CAPS award for national team players
While the kick-off next June remains the focus for fans across Poland and Ukraine, there was also time last autumn to reflect on past achievements as some of the co-hosts greatest players were honoured for the mark they have made on the international stage. In August, EUFA launched a new award to pay tribute to players from UEFA's 53 member associations who have made 100 or more appearances for their national team and Michal Zewlakow and Grzegorz Lato (Poland), alongside Oleh Blokhin, Anatoliy Tymoshchuk and Andrei Shevchenko (Ukraine), were among the first centurions their commemorative cap and medal.
Zewlakow only retired from international football after his record 102nd game for Poland in March and was thrilled to receive his award ahead of the national side's first match at the new Arena Gdansk- a 2-2 draw against Germany - on 6 September. "It is terrific to be honored by UEFA in such a special place before such a historic event," said the Legia Warsawa defender. "I felt again, if only for a few seconds, what it means to be part of the national team." Zewlakow received his award from the Polish Football Federation (PZPN) president, Grzegorz Lato, who appeared for his country 100 times between 1971 and 1984, and is now overseeing Poland's preparations for the finals. Lato was presented with his award by the UEFA president, Michel Platini, on 21 September. "It is fantastic idea to honor players in this way," Gregorz Lato said. "It isn't easy to win 100 caps for your country, so anyone who does should be respected."
Ukraine's three centurions will have an even more direct bearing on results at UEFA EURO 2012 than the PZPN president. Blokhin is coach of the national side and Shevchenko and Tymoschuk are both key members of his squad. Born in Kyiv and a star for his local side FC Dynamo Kyiv, Blokhin held the record for caps (112) and goals 42 for the Soviet national team.Shevchenko became the first player to reach 100 caps for Ukraine in October 2010, having at that point, with Tymoschuk making his 100th appearance three days later.
"I'm delighted to receive this prestigious award from UEFA," Shevchenko said. "I have been playing for Ukraine for over 15 years and have had a lot of memorable games. I hope we now perform to our best during EURO 2012." Tymoschuk added: "I'm pleased to be among the first Ukrainian players to receive this award and hope in future will be more to follow."
LIST OF 100 CAPS AWARD WINNERS:
Armenia
Sargis Hovsepyan
Austria
Andreas Herzog
Bulgaria
Borislav Mihaylov
Stiliyan Petrov
Croatia
Dario Simic
Cyprus
Yiannis Okkas
Czech republic
Karel Poborsky
Denmark
peter Schmeichel
Jon Dahl Tomasson
Dennis Rommedahl
Thomas Helveg
Michael Laudrup
Morten Olsen
Martin Jorgensen
England
Peter Shilton
David Beckham
Bobby Moore
Sir Bobby Charlton
Billy Wright
Estonia
Martin Reim
Marko Kristal
mart Poom
Andres Oper
Kristen Viikmae
Raio Piiroja
Indrek Zelinski
Finland
Jari Litmanen
Sami Hyypia
Jonatan Johansson
Ari Hjelm
France
Lilian Thuram
Theirry Henry
Marcel Desailly
Zinedine Zidane
Patrick Viera
Didier Deschamps
FYR Macedony
Goce Sedloski
Germany
Lothar Matthaus
Miroslav Klose
Jurgen Klinsmann
Jurgen Kohler
Franz Beckenbauer
Joachim Streich
Thomas Hassler
Ulf Kirsten
Hans-Jurgen Dorner
Greece
Theodoros Zagorakis
Georgios Karagounis
Angelos Basinas
Hungary
Jozsef Bozsik
Iceland
Runar Kristinsson
Italy
Fabio Cannavaro
Paolo Maldini
Dino Zoff
Gianluidgi Buffon
Latvia
Vitalijs Astafjevs
Andrejs Rubins
Juris Laizans
Imants Bleidelis
Mihails Zemlinskis
Malta
Gibert Agius
David Carabott
Carmel Busuttil
Joe Brincat
Netherlands
Edwin van der Sar
Frank de Boer
Giovanni van Bronckhorst
Phillip Cocu
Northern Ireland
Pat Jennings
Norway
Thorbjorn Svenssen
Henning Berg
Poland
Michal Zewlakow
Grzegorz Lato
Portugal
Luis Figo
Fernando Couto
republic of Ireland
Shay Given
Kevin Kilbane
Robbie Keane
Steve Staunton
Romania
Dorinel Munteanu
Gheorghe Hagi
Gheorghe Popescu
Laszlo Boloni
Russia
Viktor Onopko
Scotland
Kenny Dalglish
Serbia
Savo Milisevic
Slovakia
Miroslav Karhan
Spain
Andoni Zubizarreta
Iker Casillas
Raul Gonzalez
Xavi Hernandez
Sweden
Thomas Ravelli
Roland Nilsson
Bjorn Nordqvist
Anders Svensson
Niclas Alexandersson
Henrik Larsson
Olof Mellberg
Switzerland
heinz Hermann
Alain Geiger
Stephane Chapuisat
Turkey
Rustu Recber
Hakan SUkur
Bulent korkmaz
Ukraine
Oleg Blokhin
Anatoliy Tymoschuk
Andriy Shevchenko
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