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National Team

Mess with a Dragon, get the fire. For every one of his 52 caps with Wales, Carl made sure players from all over the world understood that. Over the course of a decade, he fought tooth and nail to protect his country's back line and create chances going forward.

Every minute he stepped onto the pitch in Welsh colours was a proud one. Because for a man from Powys, it's always Cymru am byth.

Football Association of Wales

Carl's devotion to the sport and his countrymen extends to writing, check out his columns on the www.countytimes.co.uk.

1999 - 2009

From Minsk to Millennium, Carl plied his trade for Wales over the span of a decade. He laced his boots 52 times for Cymru before hanging them up in 2009. His landmark 50th appearance came in 2008, during a 2-0 World Cup qualifier victory at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium. He did his nation proud that night and helped preserve a clean sheet.

They weren't all victories, though. Carl faced tough tests against the likes of Germany's Ballack and Schweinsteiger, Brazil's Kaka and Ronaldinho and more of the world's best. But even in defeat, Carl took away invaluable experience on what it is to compete at the highest level.

But with names like Giggs alongside Robinson on the team sheet, it wasn't only the opposition players who impressed. After taking the pitch 52 times with two generations of his countrymen, Carl stands proudly as one of the most important Welsh midfielders of the decade.

Ullevaal Stadium, Oslo, Norway Wales loses a hard-fought 3-2 match during World Cup 2002 qualification. Lokomotiv Stadium, Moscow, Russia Carl starts against Russia in a key qualifying match for the 2010 World Cup. Windsor Park, Belfast, Northern Ireland First international goal. Old Trafford, Manchester, England Carl faces England's best in a raucous World Cup 2006 qualifier. Dinamo Stadium, Minsk, Belarus First international cap. Croke Park, Dublin, Ireland Carl plays best mate Robbie Keane in vital Euro 2008 qualifier. Tottenham, London, White Hart Lane, England Friendly match against Brazil's superstars. Borussia Park, Monchengladback, Germany Wales battles Germany to a narrow 1-0 away loss in 2010 World Cup qualification. Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales First full appearance. Feijenoord Stadium, Rotterdam, Netherlands Wales faces a full-strength Holland in a high-pace friendly ahead of the Euro 2008 tournament. Antona Malatinského Stadium, Trnava, Slovakia Big 5-2 away win during Euro 2008 qualification. Varteks Stadium, Varazdin, Croatia Carl helps Wales battle to a 1-1 draw against a formidable Croatian side. Stadio Olimpico, Serraville, San Marino Carl plays the full 90 to ensure 3 points for Wales in Euro 2008 qualifying. Tofik Bakhramov Stadium, Baku, Azerbaijan Vital win to take Wales top of Euro 2004 qualifying group. GSP Stadium, Nicosia, Cyprus Wales fights valiantly, but the team succumbs to the Cypriots in a Euro 2008 qualifying loss.

Ullevaal Stadium, Oslo, Norway

Wales found itself on the wrong side of a 3-2 scoreline during World Cup 2002 qualification in Norway. Carl started in his familiar midfield role and contributed to a solid first-half performance from the Welsh side, which went into the break leading 2-1.

The second half unfolded amidst a flurry of tackles and yellow cards. Wales made a desperate stand, trying to hold onto its lead. The Norwegians piled on the pressure and eventually broke through twice to finish the match with an 89th-minute heartbreaker for Welsh players and fans.

Back to Index September 5, 2001

Lokomotiv Stadium, Moscow, Russia

Carl, a national team veteran by 2008, started in the midfield amidst a squad of young up-and-coming Welshmen for a vital 2010 World Cup qualifier in Russia.

Wales nearly took an early lead but had a penalty saved in the 17th minute. The Russians took the lead not long after, but The Dragons fired back to level the score after the break. Despite a rousing, gutsy performance, Wales eventually fell to an 81st-minute winner.

Back to Index September 10, 2008

Windsor Park, Belfast, Northern Ireland

Carl hit the back of the net for the first time in Welsh colours during a back-and-forth World Cup qualifier in Belfast.

After a bright start, Robinson fired a short-range volley past the Northern Ireland keeper and made it 2-0 for Wales. The hosts battled back and quickly knotted the score after the break. Wales then added a third, and Carl played the full 90 minutes to see out a 3-2 victory for The Dragons.

Back to Index October 8, 2005

Old Trafford, Manchester, England

At a packed Old Trafford, Wales faced longtime rival England for supremacy in World Cup qualification. Despite falling a goal behind after just 3 minutes, the Welsh battled back and held England for much of the remaining time.

Sensing the midfield battle beginning to tip in England's favour, manager Mark Hughes brought Carl off the bench in the 61st minute. Robinson helped ease the pressure on his backline, but David Beckham netted a second for The Three Lions in the 76th minute.

Back to Index October 9, 2004

Dinamo Stadium, Minsk, Belarus

Youth call-ups are one thing - joining the full senior squad for your first cap is another. Carl made his international debut for Wales in 1999, stepping onto the world stage at Dinamo Stadium in Minsk.

Coming on as a substitute in the 80th minute of a 1-1 deadlock, he helped contain the Belarusian attack. Minutes later, Wales scored a go-ahead goal. Carl and the team then held onto the lead for a vital away win during Euro 2000 qualification.

Back to Index September 4, 1999

Croke Park, Dublin, Ireland

With the Republic of Ireland and Wales drawing the same qualifying group for Euro 2008, Carl was pitted against his best mate and former Wolves teammate Robbie Keane for two matches in 2007.

The first of the two meetings played out in Dublin's massive Croke Park before 72,500 fans. A first-half goal for the Irish proved decisive, but Carl saved his side from greater defeat with a courageous challenge in the Welsh box to deny his friend Robbie Keane in the late going.

Back to Index March 24, 2007

Tottenham, London, White Hart Lane, England

One of Carl's more memorable caps came during a friendly in 2006. Wales lined up against footballing giants Brazil for a friendly at Tottenham's White Hart Lane.

The Samba Kings brought their big guns. Robinson played against some of the best footballers in the world: Ronaldinho, Kaka, Gilberto Silva and so many other legends of the sport.

Back to Index September 5, 2006

Borussia Park, Monchengladback, Germany

A brave showing for Wales ended in a heartbreaking loss to Germany in Monchengladback. The Welsh held back the German attack for 72 minutes, but a thunderous Trochowski goal sealed victory for Die Mannschaft.

Carl came on as a sub in the 76th minute to wrest control of the midfield from the Germans. He and his teammates pressed for an equalizer, but the final whistle blew too soon. Travelling Wales supporters showed their appreciation for a fine display by singing their players off the pitch.

Back to Index October 15, 2008

Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales

Carl received the ideal setting for his first full appearance: a sold-out Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. When "Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau" played, he felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up.

Backed by the crowd, Carl and The Dragons battled to a 1-1 draw against Ukraine. He played the full 90 minutes in the midfield, fighting against world-class opposition in Shevchenko, Tymoshchuk and Vorobey.

Back to Index March 28, 2001

Feijenoord Stadium, Rotterdam, Netherlands

Looking for a final test before the Euro 2008 tournament, Holland invited Wales for a friendly.

Carl started the match against top-class talent in Wesley Sneijder, Arjen Robben and Ruud van Nistelrooy. One goal on either side of the break sealed victory for the Dutch, but Wales took away valuable experience against some of the world's best.

Back to Index June 1, 2008

Antona Malatinského Stadium, Trnava, Slovakia

Wales recorded a massive 5-2 victory over the Slovaks in Trnava to gain 3 points toward Euro 2008 qualification.

Despite surrendering a goal in the 12th minute, the Welsh side came roaring back. Carl dictated play from the midfield while his teammates pummeled the Slovak goal to up 3-1 before the break. The Dragons continued to press and added 2 more before the final whistle blew.

Back to Index September 12, 2007

Varteks Stadium, Varazdin, Croatia

In a friendly lead-up to the Euro 2004 qualifying campaign, Wales faced an ambitious Croatian side positioned significantly higher in FIFA World Rankings.

The underdog Welsh side impressed, despite a messy, wet pitch. Carl worked feverishly to preserve an early lead for Wales, and it wasn't until he was substituted that the Croats found a late equalizer.

Back to Index August 21, 2002

Stadio Olimpico, Serraville, San Marino

Carl and The Dragons reignited Welsh dreams of a spot in Euro 2008 with a scrappy 2-1 victory in San Marino.

After 2 first-half goals, Wales looked to the backline and holding midfielders to preserve the lead. Carl played every minute of the match and did his part to ensure 3 points for his country.

Back to Index October 17, 2007

Tofik Bakhramov Stadium, Baku, Azerbaijan

Carl and Wales notched a third win on the trot to go top of their group for Euro 2004 qualification.

Playing far from home proved to be a small obstacle for The Dragons, who put forth a true team effort. Carl and the defense fought to preserve the clean sheet, while his teammates twice found the back of the net.

Back to Index November 20, 2002

GSP Stadium, Nicosia, Cyprus

Wales jumped to an early lead in Cyprus with a 21st-minute goal. The prospect of a third Welsh away victory in a row looked good, and Carl battled to preserve the scoreline.

Three second-half goals from the Cypriots sank Welsh hopes, however, and left an appearance at Euro 2008 very much up in the air.

Back to Index October 13, 2007