England 4 Lithuania 0, Euro 2016 qualifier: match report, Harry Kane becomes instant hero

England will never erase the memory of a wretched World Cup but their seventh win on the spin since Brazil was greeted rapturously by Wembley, a venue where crumbs of comfort are traditionally gathered up and made into feasts of hope.

Leaving aside Wembley’s excessive triumphalism, there is hope for the future with Wayne Rooney leading the line like this, Danny Welbeck playing as vibrantly as this, Raheem Sterling lighting up the second half and Harry Kane, in pure Roy of the Rovers fashion, coming on for his debut and scoring after 79 seconds. All four attackers scored.

So at the halfway stage of qualifying for Euro 2016, Roy Hodgson and his players are halfway across the concourse at St Pancras, strolling towards the waiting Eurostar. They lead Group E by six points, winning all five ties, scoring 15 times and conceding one. Throw in friendly victories over Norway and Scotland and England have done well since returning with heads bowed from Rio. Rooney even claimed opponents should now be “frightened” of England.