Wayne Rooney was reduced to tears as he marked his final appearance for England on Thursday night.
Rooney, 33, earned his 120th cap for the Three Lions in a 3-0 win over the USA when he came on as a substitute in the 58th minute, and donned the England armband a final time.
He nearly had a fairytale ending but couldn’t get the ball in the net, which would have been his 54th goal.
Before the game Harry Kane presented Rooney with a commemorative plaque.
The former Manchester United striker asked Kane to present the award, and had a special reason for requesting him.
He explained: “Before playing the game I asked Harry Kane to present me with the award because I believe he will beat my goalscoring record and I look forward to presenting him with the trophy.
“The night went as I imagined it, a night I will remember forever. For us as a family to look back on, we will take great memories from it.
“It’s a shame I couldn’t get that goal – but if I did score it would have opened a whole new debate about whether it should count so maybe better I didn’t.”
He added: “I think (England are) in very safe hands from what I’ve seen on the training pitch.
“How the players are getting coached is brilliant. How the players are responding to it is brilliant.”
He added: “It’s a great group of young players who have got a really bright future. I’m sure in the next few years they will go close to being the next team to bring a trophy back for England.
“I hope they do it. It’ll be great for the country and I’ll be one of the fans supporting them.”
Jess Lingard, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Callum Wilson made sure it was a perfect sendforth for the Merseysider.
