SCOTLAND crashed to a tame semi-final defeat as their hopes of winning the Toulon Tournament ended in Fos-Sur-Mer against an impressive England side.
Scot Gemmill's youngsters were hoping to reach the final for the first time in the first part of an Auld Enemy double-header, ahead of tomorrow's World Cup showdown at Hampden.
But the tired Scots – who had defeated Brazil in the tournament – barely laid a glove on the Toulon holders, who won without slipping out of second gear.
Two goals from Leicester City's Harvey Barnes – who made his debut for the former English Premier League winners in the Champions League this season – helped see off Gemmill's young Scots, who managed just one shot on target the whole game and it came when they were already 3-0 down.
England also boasted three Chelsea youngsters in their starting line-up and they also had two days more rest than the Scots, who edged out Indonesia on Tuesday. It seemed to make all the difference.
However, Gemmill insisted he was proud of his players' efforts. He said: "It’s down to the fine lines in games – those moments where you have to give England credit for taking their chances in such a clinical manner.
"There wasn’t a lot in the game but those real moments when England have come up with the goals and defensively we needed to do better. From our perspective in the preparation for the game we knew we were playing a top team with dangerous players who could score those sorts of goals. On the day we’ve not managed to stop them doing what they’re good at.
"We have a 17-year-old midfielder playing against a player who has played Champions League this year. There are a lot of positives to take away from the tournament. To get to the semis in the manner we did and to beat Brazil means I don’t want to be too hard on them. I’m so proud of them for getting us to this position. We’re disappointed but going forwards we have to move on.
"Of course we were conscious of the extra days’ rest and it’s in the mix but it’s not the reason why we lost. We weren’t quite good enough to stop England scoring those goals, but it wasn’t down to the rest. We’ve got a chance to still finish third and that is where the focus moves to."
Scotland received a pre-match boost at the baking-hot Stade Parsemain when captain Burke was declared fit. However, the most expensive Scot looked far from sharp and barely made any impact at all.
England netted with their first attack of the game when the Red Bull Leipzig attacker was dispossessed on the halfway line by Hull City's Joshua Tymon, before Barnes collected it. He was allowed far too much space to make inroads to the edge of the box before driving a low shot past Wolves' Jack Ruddy to give them a seventh-minute lead.
Barnes nearly repeated his earlier strike when he swept a 25-yard effort wide, but again he was allowed to progress forward unchallenged.
There were concerns over Rangers' midfielder Ross McCrorie after he was stretchered off following an awkward landing after an aerial challenge and he required lengthy treatment. He was unconscious at first, but Gemmill later revealed he had made a full recovery.
Scotland had their best moment three minutes before half time when Burke fizzed a low cross wide that Dundee's Craig Wighton just failed to get a touch on in front of goal.
And then Kilmarnock's Adam Frizzell forced Huddersfield Town keeper Ryan Schofield into his first save with a driven volley which was going wide as the Scots at last came to life.
But six minutes after the break, England doubled their advantage and again, it was all Scotland's doing.
Nottingham Forest defender Alez Iacovitti was robbed outside his own box while trying to build from the back and Sheffield United's David Brooks teed up Sunderland striker Elliot Embleton to score easily.
Scotland were desperate for the final whistle, but Barnes was to make them suffer further with 11 minutes to go when he curled a superb, low finish around the helpless Ruddy to seal an emphatic victory.
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