France 3 (Umtiti 22', Sidibe 43', Dembele 73') - 2 (Kane 9', Kane pen 48') England

Just as it appeared the VAR would decide this game, it ended up being about a French team with the qualities of the TGV. England lost to 10-man opposition because they ­simply could not cope with the speed and ability of two ­rising superstars in Kylian Dembélé and Ousmane Dembélé.

With Paul Pogba dominating the midfield, the youthful forwards ripped through the heart of Southgate’s side. It was, at times, awesome, and almost unstoppable.

This was the first time that England had played under the Video Assistant Referee, the ­system of decisions that officials are reviewing in the stands and it led to a red card for France’s Raphaël Varane, which meant the hosts played the second half depleted.

But even after France were reduced in number, they were the more threatening team, with England simply struggling to cope, their use of a three-man defence exposed, and the scale of the task laid bare.

France were quicker, more aggressive and more youthful. Southgate desperately tried to stop them with substitutions and by changing his system. It was never enough. It was only a friendly, but it was a sobering result. France’s future is gloriously bright; England’s remains uncertain. Southgate should not regard this as too great a setback but he needs to learn from it.