Harry Kane's England debut in March 2015 ended with a goal just 79 seconds after he came on, and Wayne Rooney's reaction from the bench spoke volumes. The moment came between England's World Cup 2014 group stage exit and their Euro 2016 defeat to Iceland, offering a rare bright spot for fans.
A long wait for the big moment
Kane was 21 when Roy Hodgson first called him into the squad, older than Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen, who made their senior debuts at 17 and 18 respectively. Hodgson named Kane on the bench for the Euro 2016 qualifier against Lithuania on March 27, 2015.
During the match, Rooney hit the post with an early chance before scoring from close range and later hitting the bar with a header. Danny Welbeck was credited with the second goal, though Jordan Henderson's effort had gone in off a defender's thigh. After half-time, Raheem Sterling made it three with his first international goal.
Kane's instant impact
Kane waited seven minutes on the touchline before replacing Rooney to a thunderous ovation from the Wembley crowd. His header from Sterling's cross crept over the line despite Giedrius Arlauskis' attempt to keep it out.
Coverage soon showed Rooney, who had just sat down on the bench, politely applauding while wearing a look that suggested he knew his position was under threat. Kane called the night a "dream come true" and "a night I won't forget, for sure" in his post-match interviews.
A record-breaking career
Kane has since scored 89 goals for England and is preparing to equal Peter Shilton's all-time men's record of 125 caps. With England fans hoping for silverware, ideally in July 2028, Kane could cement his place as the country's best ever player.
