Kane has been the defining player of a successful era, but this thing has run its course

Below the hum of the crowd every time Kane took the ball, he was rearranging his legs like a pantomime horse

- Barney Ronay

There was an oddly heartbreaking moment with 87 minutes gone at Wembley, as Harry Kane was put through on goal with a chance to score his second of the night, made all the more tender by the fact he seemed so desperately keen to do exactly that with England already 5-0 up.

Mainly it was heartbreaking because of the way Kane reached down to pump the accelerator, and just found nothing, a man suddenly running backwards through time, wind chimes tinkling. The finish was rushed and too close to the goalkeeper. Kane ended up flat on his face. He didn't stop, passing and pointing and leading this team of tyros to the final whistle. Maybe he can wear his Bobby Charlton top next time and still take all the penalties.

Or perhaps not. Time calls for everyone in the end, and here there was something present below the hum of the crowd every time Kane took the ball and seemed to be visibly rearranging his legs, like a pantomime horse setting off on a trot, the creak of the clapper, the clanging of that distant bell.

This game will be remembered as the Carsley farewell. The interim manager is clearly a good thing, a company man but also bold in his choices and encouragingly ruthless. England have gained some sparky young players. Most significantly they have also shed the idea of themselves as doomed to carry Kane as an immovable weight, ever-present from game to game like a decaying battle standard.