There were glimpses for the majority inside this arena to cherish, flashbacks to the skill and vision Wayne Rooney had delivered for England over a career now complete, and celebrated, at 120 caps. The former captain’s final cameo amounted to 32 minutes, a period illuminated by one sharp shift on to his left foot to whip away a shot that was claimed, one wonderful lofted pass for Ruben Loftus-Cheek to gather, and a shot in injury time which nearly, so nearly, squirmed beneath Brad Guzan and in. His script did not quite extend to a 54th international goal.
It mattered not, and he played out his time with a smile. Gareth Southgate, too, could be satisfied with plenty he had seen. Jadon Sancho, such a livewire on the flank, has now served notice of his blistering talent on this stage, and will have enjoyed his rat-a-tat passing routines with Rooney as the clock ticked down for the 33-year-old at this level. England’s past and future had combined in that exchange just inside their opponents’ half.
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