A quick-fire first-half brace from Tottenham’s Harry Kane was not enough to prevent England Under-21s from suffering their first defeat in more than a year as they were beaten 3-2 in France last night.

The in-form Spurs forward opened the scoring when he lifted a finish past goalkeeper Alphonse Areola, and then made it ten goals in as many games for club and country within two minutes by tapping in a Tom Ince cross-shot.

But the French were level by the break thanks to two close-range finishes from Arsenal’s Yaya Sanogo, before substitute Kingsley Coman completed the turnaround to end Gareth Southgate’s Young Lions’ 11-game winning streak.