Before Kane's opener, Jesse Lingard had a shot saved on the line before setting up Raheem Sterling, who fluffed his chance while staring at an unprotected part of the net.

Chances to regain the advantage were squandered. When Dele Alli's header was turned onto the crossbar, Stones messed up the follow-up.

Lingard later hit the post after breaking past goalkeeper Farouk Ben Mustapha.

"The pleasing thing was the movement, the pace, the interchange," Southgate said. "The control from the back with the ball."

However hard it was to break through, the English attack achieved its most shots on target in the first half at a World Cup since 1966 — the only time the team won the trophy.

For Kane, wearing the captain's armband is only making him more prolific. He now has eight goals in six games as captain.