England-Scotland score: Harry Kane struggles as oldest international rivalry ends in goalless draw

England and Scotland held each other goalless in one of Euro 2020's most disappointing fixtures

Scotland earned their first point of Euro 2020 as they held England at arms length in a goalless draw at Wembley Stadium to cap off the 115th edition of the oldest international football rivalry, which dates back to 1872.

The first half may have been light on quality, but there were chances at both ends. John Stones might have felt he could have done more with an unmarked header from a corner than flick it against the post, but it seemed he had misjudged his header. For a time early in the game England's pressure looked to be telling, Raheem Sterling picking Scott McTominay's pocket and squaring for Mason Mount, who had evaded the attention of Chelsea colleague Billy Gilmour, but tapped wide.

However, Scotland grew into the contest, Gilmour's searching passes out to the wing backs stretching the English defense effectively. Stephen O'Donnell came closest, volleying Andrew Robertson's cross through the legs of Luke Shaw and drawing a smart save from Jordan Pickford. That trend continued into the second half, with Reece James clearing a Lyndon Dykes volley that might have been curling into the far post just after the hour.

Che Adams came closest in the closing spell of the game, volleying wide from a tight angle, but a game of limited attacking quality ended in a melee of bodies in the Scottish area that typified an underwhelming contest that suited the visitors to a tee.

England's Kane problem

The one player who entered this tournament almost certain of his spot might have something of a fight on his hand. Harry Kane had been in great form for Tottenham and had proven at the 2018 World Cup that he could be a consistent scorer on the international stage, especially if the opponent was Panama. Surrounding him are even more effective weapons than he has at club level, a heady mix of creators and runners in behind.

Yet, so far in this tournament, the England captain looks an ill fit for the players around him, dropping into the spaces that Phil Foden and Mount might look to occupy while not really getting into the box in time to function as the focal point of the attack. When chasing the ball he did not come close to matching the pace of Kieran Tierney.

Kane has never been the quickest of forwards, but leading a rare English break just before it was as though his game tape were moving in slow motion as the rest played on fast forward. In such circumstances he needed to be in the box, not slipping wide to drill crosses towards Foden and Raheem Sterling.

That he was substituted as England chased a winner said everything about how woeful his performance was. The best-case scenario is that he is injured, for a forward of his quality to put in such a poor performance on the biggest stage for other reasons is far more worrying.

Should Kane be fit then something needs to change. So much of his playmaking success with Tottenham came from his telepathic relationship with Heung-min Son, who helped buoy those assist numbers with some exceptional finishing early in the season. He is not going to develop that with Sterling, at least until they play together at Manchester City. Time to go back to basics for England's No. 9.

Gilmour makes the perfect start

One could scarcely imagine a more intimidating occasion to make your first start for your nation, against their greatest rival in a tournament match where defeat might doom Scotland to another early exit from the international stage. You would not know that the stakes were so high from watching Gilmour.

The Chelsea youngster looked as at ease on the Wembley pitch as Luka Modric had days earlier, constantly demanding possession and making the right choice. His start had been a little nerve-inducing, gasping on the pitch as he struggled to keep across the movement of Mount, but when Scotland got on the ball he made them tick, spreading play from one flank to another without ever looking cavalier in his approach. Not until the second half did he give the ball away.

Gilmour's approach typified that of Scotland: Composure on the ball and discipline off it. For all that England needed a creative spark they struggled to craft spaces between the lines of five and four, the midfield and forwards aggressively pressing Declan Rice and Kalvin Phillips, challenging them to beat their opponents to progress the ball in ways they could not.

They will almost certainly still need a first win and first goal against Croatia on Tuesday, but on Friday night's evidence they have the composure to get a result at Hampden Park.

[Jun 18, 2021 at 4:36 pm ET · James Benge]

A bit of drama at last. Adams shanks a shot from a tight angle at the back post when he might have been better off trying to cross or at least take a touch. Then at the other end your first reaction is that Sterling has dived as he goes down with Tierney in close proximity but replays show there was a boot on the England forward's toe. Perhaps it would have been a bit much for VAR to intervene.