Southgate kept Kane back for bigger battles ahead – but this laboured, unthreatening defeat him with much food for thought.
Jamie Vardy and Rashford were entrusted with attacking duties. They both worked hard but England’s lack of penetration only emphasised their heavy reliance, some would argue over-reliance, on the captain and talisman.
Kane is the tournament’s leading scorer with five goals and has not yet been the beneficiary of a reliable supply line, two goals resulting from corners, two from penalties and another a deflection from Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s shot to complete his hat-trick in the 6-1 win against Panama.
He is the central figure in England’s World Cup ambitions, the leader on and off the pitch and a striker every defence at this tournament would be anxious about facing.
Southgate’s reluctance to throw Kane into the action, even when England were losing and posing little danger, was perhaps an even bigger indicator of just how important he feels he will be in the knockout stage.
Vardy and Rashford did their best, and may make contributions further down the line, but toothless England proved here that they simply cannot do without Kane.