Berezovski and Frick join Europe's 40-somethings

By taking to the field against Russia in Khimki this evening, Liechtenstein's most-capped player and record goalscorer Mario Frick has joined a select band of 40-somethings to have played for European national teams.

A day after turning 40, Frick captained René Pauritsch's side in their opening UEFA EURO 2016 Group G qualifier – his 115th international appearance, though in central defence rather than is his usual role up front. His outing came 24 hours after goalkeeper Roman Berezovski, who celebrated his 40th birthday last month, skippered Armenia in a 2-1 Group I loss in Denmark.

Berezovski picked up his 86th cap as Armenia let slip a one-goal lead in Copenhagen on Sunday. The FC Dinamo Moskva man has been his nation's No1 since keeping a clean sheet on his debut, a 0-0 draw with Portugal in a 1998 FIFA World Cup qualifier.

"Saying that Berezovski is our goalkeeper gives very little idea of what he represents," said leading Armenian sports journalist Gevorg Burnuchyan. "He is our pillar, our hope. They say that a goalkeeper is half of the team. Well, he is more than half. He is a living legend; the flagship of football in independent Armenia; a human with capital H."

Europe's oldest international players
Giorgios Koudas*, 48 years 301 days,  Greece v Yugoslavia (friendly), 20/09/1995
Billy Meredith, 45 years 229 days, Wales v England (friendly), 15/03/1920
Vasilios Hatzipanagis*, 45 years 49 days, Greece v Ghana (friendly), 14/12/1999
Elisha Scott, 42 years 200 days, Northern Ireland v Wales (friendly), 11/03/1936
Sir Stanley Matthews, 42 years 103 days, Denmark v England (FIFA World Cup qualifier), 15/05/1957
Jákup Mikkelsen, 41 years 365 days, Iceland v Faroe Islands (friendly), 15/08/2012
Roman Berezovski, 41 years 233 days, Armenia v Belarus (friendly), 25/03/2016
Dino Zoff, 41 years 90 days, Sweden v Italy (UEFA European Championship qualifer), 29/05/1983
Albert Beuchat, 41 years 63 days, Switzerland v Italy (friendly), 14/02/1932
Mario Frick, 41 years 35 days, Austria v Liechtenstein (UEFA European Championship qualifier), 21/10/2015
Pat Jennings, 41 years, Brazil v Northern Ireland (FIFA World Cup), 12/06/1986
Peter Shilton, 40 years 292 days, Italy v England (FIFA World Cup third-place play-off), 07/07/1990
Patsy Gallagher, 40 years 272 days, Republic of Ireland** v Spain (friendly), 13 December 1931
Serghei Stroenco, 40 years 237 days, Malta v Moldova (UEFA European Championship qualifier), 17/10/2007
David Weir, 40 years 155 days, Scotland v Spain (UEFA European Championship qualifier), 12/10/2010
Jim Leighton, 40 years 78 days, Scotland v Estonia (UEFA European Championship qualifier), 10/10/1998
Jerzy Dudek, 40 years 73 days, Poland v Liechtenstein (friendly), 04/06/2013
Maik Taylor, 40 years 37 days, Italy v Northern Ireland (UEFA European Championship qualifier), 11/10/2011
Billy McCracken, 40 years 33 days, Northern Ireland v Scotland (friendly) 3 March 1923
Sargis Hovsepyan, 40 years 12 days, Armenia v Lithuania (friendly), 14/11/2012
Birkir Kristinsson, 40 years 3 days, Iceland v Italy (friendly), 18/08/2004

*Koudas and Hatzipangis both came out of retirement to make those appearances for Greece, the national team honouring two of its favourite sons
**Then known as Irish Free State

Note: Matthew Wilson was at least 41 when he played for Ireland against England on 23 February 1884 but only his birth year (1842) is known. Likewise Jack Henderson, botn in 1844, lined up for Ireland against Wales on 11 April 1885.