Kane powerless to shift career narrative as that old sinking feeling returns

Striker shares the Golden Boot but his deserved early exit in final better describes apatchy tournament

- Nick Ames

This was not Harry's game. It was not his or England's tournament either and perhaps, once they have picked themselves off the floor from a traumatic, climactic night in Berlin, they will acknowledge that something has indeed changed forever.

The sight of Harry Kane removing his armband, handing it to Kyle Walker and running to swap places with Ollie Watkins in the 61st minute was an oddly moving finale to his summer. This was not how anybody had envisaged his role in breaking a personal trophy drought and ending the hex upon his country, too.

As Spain celebrated in the centre circle Kane stood impassively in the technical area, gathering his emotions before making his way around his stricken, desolate teammates. He had hoped to crown his life's work here but instead all the goals and personal accolades that, the day before the final, he had offered to swap for collective success will have to stay put.

The consideration for Gareth Southgate, or anyone who succeeds him, may be that England have looked livelier and fresher in his absence for some weeks. Cole Palmer's moment of brilliance may not have denied Spain the title they richly deserved but his impact, and the movement of a sprightly Watkins, may have pointed to the future.

Two and a half hours previously, the possibility of fulfilment had remained intact. England's bus had arrived at 7.29pm, winding its way past the woodlands and training pitches that surround Olympiastadion and depositing its inhabitants at the door.