International Career
Noble captained the England U-18 team. He was a member of the England U-19 team that beat Serbia and Montenegro 3–1 in the 2005 European Championship semi-finals, although they subsequently lost the final to France.
Noble made his debut for the England U-21 team on 11 June 2007, coming on as substitute in the 82nd minute for Tom Huddlestone in England's 0–0 draw with the Czech Republic during the European under-21 Championships in Holland. He established himself in the starting eleven for the remaining matches and scored twice in a dramatic semifinal penalty shootout against the Netherlands where they lost 13–12.
On 11 September 2007, Noble scored his first international goal, for the Under-21 team, against Bulgaria, in a 2–0 victory, followed by two more against the Republic of Ireland on 16 October.
Noble captained the U-21s at the 2009 European Championships as regular captain Steven Taylor had to withdraw due to injury. The Young Lions ended the tournament as runners-up, losing 4–0 to Germany, with Noble playing his last match for the U21's.
Noble is also eligible to play for the Republic of Ireland national side.
Read more about this topic: Mark Noble (footballer)
Famous quotes containing the word career:
“It is a great many years since at the outset of my career I had to think seriously what life had to offer that was worth having. I came to the conclusion that the chief good for me was freedom to learn, think, and say what I pleased, when I pleased. I have acted on that conviction... and though strongly, and perhaps wisely, warned that I should probably come to grief, I am entirely satisfied with the results of the line of action I have adopted.”
—Thomas Henry Huxley (1825–95)