Sonejee honoured as Andorra's first centurion

"I am on cloud nine," said Andorra defender Óscar Sonejee after receiving his commemorative cap from UEFA for reaching 100 international appearances.

"It has been an incredible week – I've got goosebumps," continued the 39-year-old Andorra captain, who made football history by becoming the first player from the Pyrenean nation to bring up a century in last Saturday's 1-0 friendly defeat by Equatorial Guinea. "There are very few players that have reached 100 games, so it is a privileged group and to be the first from Andorra to do it, I am on cloud nine."

After attaining the landmark six days ago, the veteran was presented with his commemorative cap – awarded to all European footballers who make 100 national-team outings – before kick-off of Friday's UEFA EURO 2016 Group B qualifier against Cyprus in Andorra la Vella.

"My debut was a very special game. You look back and you have no idea," Sonejee added of his international bow against Estonia in June 1997. "There are so many games, every time you value it more."

With 18 years of international experience, Sonejee has come up against some of the best forwards of more than one generation, yet one match in particular holds a place in his heart. "Of all the games played, I remember a really special one – it was against FYR Macedonia [on 13 October 2004, Andorra's first victory in a competitive match]. For all of us who experienced it, that was unforgettable. After so many games without winning or without getting a point, it meant a lot.

"I also remember a friendly against Brazil, a match against France at the Stade de France in front of 80,000 people ... those are the games that leave a mark on you," said the FC Lusitans man, who will get another taste of continental action in the summer in the first qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League.