Scott Carson - International Career

International Career

Carson was first called up to the England under-21 squad in October 2003, a month after his 18th birthday, for the UEFA Under-21 Championship 2004 qualifier against Turkey. At the time he was yet to make his competitive debut for Leeds United's first team, and had previously played only four games for England at other levels. He made his under-21 debut in a 3–2 win for England against the Netherlands in February 2004. He was selected in the squad for the 2007 UEFA Under-21 Championship, and in the third game against Serbia, he earned his 28th under-21 cap, eclipsing the record held by Gareth Barry and Jamie Carragher. His 29th and final cap came against the hosts, the Netherlands, in the semi-final, which finished level at 1–1 after extra-time. In the resultant shootout, he saved one of the 16 penalties he faced and also scored one himself, but England lost 13–12. Carson has since been overtaken by James Milner as the England Under-21 team's most-capped player.

In May 2005, while still a member of the under-21 side, Carson was called up to the England senior team squad for the team's tour of the United States later that month. A year later, he came on as substitute for Robert Green, who had suffered a serious injury, in the England B international friendly against Belarus in May 2006. The injury to Green, who had been named in the England squad for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, led to Carson, who was on standby, being promoted to the England squad for the tournament, although he did not make any appearances. Carson continued to be selected for the England senior team squad, and in May 2007, made his second appearance for the England B team in a 3–1 win over Albania. Following the 2007 UEFA Under-21 Championships, he made his full England debut in a friendly against Austria in November 2007 when he kept a clean sheet. A week later, he made his competitive debut in a crucial match against Croatia, which England lost 3–2, resulting in their failure to qualify for Euro 2008. Carson was held particularly culpable for the first goal, when Niko Kranjčar's speculative shot from 30 yards dipped and bounced in front of him, with Carson only succeeding in parrying the ball into the net. England coach Steve McClaren was sacked the next day, as commentators criticised McClaren for selecting an inexperienced goalkeeper for the match.

New manager Fabio Capello named Carson in his first England squad for the friendly match against Switzerland in February 2008, but the goalkeeper did not make the final squad for the match against France the following month due to injury. After failing to make Capello's squads for the next five internationals, Carson was recalled to the England squad in October 2008 for the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Kazakhstan and Belarus. He won his third England cap in November 2008, in a friendly against Germany in Berlin when he came on for the second half. In doing so he became the first West Bromwich Albion player to play for England for 24 years. He won his fourth cap as a second half substitute against Sweden on 15 November 2011.