The Euro 2020 line-up began to take shape on Thursday after big-hitters France and England qualified for next year's finals alongside Turkey and the Czech Republic.
World champions France reached the tournament without having to kick a ball thanks to Turkey sealing their own qualification after a goalless draw with Iceland in the day's early match.
Chelsea outcast Olivier Giroud then moved to within two international goals of France great Michel Platini with a late penalty that ensured a comeback win over a Moldova side ranked 175th in the world.
The scrappy victory at a chilly Stade de France put Didier Deschamps' side two points ahead of Turkey at the top of Group H ahead of their final match at Albania on Sunday.
The celebratory mood was initially dampened when Vadim Rata punished abject defending to give Moldova a shock ninth-minute lead.
Kane struck his treble in the first half as Gareth Southgate's side racked up five before the break in England's 1000th match, making light of the absence of Raheem Sterling, who was dropped by Southgate earlier in the week after an altercation with teammate Joe Gomez.
"We wanted to put on a show in our 1,000th game and with five goals in the first half I think we did that," said Kane.
England displayed the firepower that will make them one of the favourites for next year's European Championship as they sealed top spot in Group A.
Thursday's demolition took them to 33 goals in seven qualifying matches following Tammy Abraham's first international goal, further strikes from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Marcus Rashford and an own goal from Aleksandar Sofranac.
Kane meanwhile moved sixth in the all-time list of England goalscorers by taking his tally for the qualifying campaign to 11.
Ronaldo eyes Portugal century
Reigning European champions Portugal were made to wait for their place despite Cristiano Ronaldo hitting his ninth international hat-trick in a 6-0 thrashing of Lithuania in Faro.
They will secure their spot at next year's finals with a victory in Luxembourg on Sunday.
Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2019