On-field bemusement was echoed by the home support, whose frustration would be lifted by their exciting, young side.
France, by contrast, looked fresh and in Kylian Mbappe, Dembele and N'Golo Kante they had the three best players on the pitch.
A week later men in a van mowed down civilians on London Bridge and later used knives to kill seven people in a busy area of London.
But a dazzling France attack, led by Monaco sensation Kylian Mbappe, continued to tear holes in the England defence despite the numerical disadvantage and Borussia Dortmund winger Ousmane Dembele became the third home player to score a maiden worldwide goal when he sealed victory 12 minutes from time.
But after a night which started with a rendition of the Oasis song Don't Look Back in Anger as the Stade de France paid its respects to the victims of the recent terror attacks in London and Manchester, Southgate opted not to sugar-coat defeat. Last night, his first came inside nine minutes.
Eric Dier retrieved the ball in midfield, Dele Alli shuttled it forward to Raheem Sterling and the winger produced a moment of quick thinking to wrong foot Les Bleus.
"It is always good to finish with a victory, especially after a defeat".
· Kane is the first Tottenham player to score a brace for England since Jermain Defoe in March 2013 (v San Marino).
They were warning signs Southgate's men failed to heed.
Olivier Giroud, with six goals in four games for France prior to this match, thought he had equalized with a spectacular volley, only for the effort to be ruled out for offside.
England responded well after half-time and their early pressure in the second period reaped rewards.
Rise in inflation to 2.9% tightens squeeze on households
Inflation has been rising sharply in recent months having been hovering at close to zero until early in 2016. The mining output rose by 4.2 per cent and that for electricity generation edged higher by 5.4 per cent.
Alli's burst into the box ended under pressure from Varane, with referee Massa pointing to the spot and referring to the video assistants.
Deschamps moved to steady the ship as the sting was temporarily taken out of proceedings as England struggled to make their advantage count.
It was not enough, however, to deny a spirited and daring French side.
He put exciting newcomers Mbappe, Thomas Lemar and Dembele in his starting line-up.
Butland added: "Other sports use it and if we can get to the speed rugby use it at, it would be successful. In the space of 90 minutes we saw the things that we are very good at - we looked a threat and created a lot of openings - and equally we saw what we have to do better", he said.
"If we want to be courageous and play like that, then sometimes mistakes like that are going to happen".
"I think with the ball generally we are progressing", he continued.
"I was at the match and that was a very special occasion", Southgate said.
Southgate may not have made his mind up yet, or at least not made his thoughts public, but it is hard to see anyone but Kane as England's long-term skipper.
"We need to see the reality of where we are and you have to play against the best otherwise it masks where you are as a team". "Clearly, even with video, you won't get every decision right".
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