He earned his first senior cap against Venezuela in 2004 coming on as a substitute in the 84th minute replacing David Zdrilic. However it was his only appearance for the senior national team for three years. Carle regularly missed selection under Frank Farina and did not feature at all under Guus Hiddink. Carle's form for Jets in the 2006–07 A-League season saw calls for new coach Graham Arnold to bring him back into the national team. Carle ended three years in exile from the national squad by coming on as a substitute in a friendly against China in March 2007, and also made an appearance against Uruguay in June, where in the dying stages of the game he attempted a rabona cross and completely missed, to the ire of commentators and spectators.