Thursday's rather humdrum 1-0 defeat to Belgium rounded off England's Group G commitments but, conversely, it gave Gareth Southgate's lot a supposedly easier run in the knockout stages.
Related: Advantage England? Belgium on supposedly tricky course with Group G win
In his latest chat with theScore, former Three Lions striker Dean Ashton reveals what happened when he chose to ease his foot off the gas, picks out players that disappointed him in the Belgium loss, compares match-winner Adnan Januzaj to a former England youth teammate, and predicts where England can finish.
Was that game worse than you expected?
Dean Ashton: No, it was probably what I expected. As soon as you make that many changes and there's not that much left to play for, you take that intensity away. It was always going to be left open to have a game like that. The fact is, we're through. That's all that matters really.
Were you disappointed with Gareth Southgate's team selection?
DA: Only because I wouldn't have made that many changes. It would've been nice to really keep the momentum with another excellent performance. But I can see why he would want to rest players and give other players a chance to get game time. Otherwise when you get further in the competition and you've got to call on some of the fringe players who haven't played any matches for three weeks to a month.
Was there ever an occasion when you took it easy on purpose?
DA: The only time I've ever considered it was with West Ham before the FA Cup final. In the back of your mind leading into that final, you're just thinking about not getting sent off or injured to rule yourself out. Typically, I tweaked my hamstring (in the final) so it totally worked against me.
Were you impressed with anybody in today's game?
DA: I thought Ruben Loftus-Cheek was outstanding again. I just think the way he plays - he keeps the ball and links the midfield and attack - is excellent. He was the bright spark for me.
I thought John Stones in the first half was a standout performer and looked like a player who had played in the previous two games; that little bit ahead of the other centre-backs, Phil Jones and Gary Cahill, who came into the side.
Stones seemed to have some ice strapped around his leg during the second half. If he was unfit for the round of 16, how would you replace him?
DA: It would be difficult, he's been fantastic so far in the tournament. But I think we've got strength in depth and players to come in with experience. That's where Southgate's been very good: you feel as if a player gets injured or plays really well he's willing to make those changes and be brave in his decisions.
Were there any England players you were particularly disappointed with in the Belgium loss?
DA: I didn't feel as if Marcus Rashford and Jamie Vardy linked up very well up front. They seemed to play individually, which is a trait I think players struggle with now because they're so used to playing up front on their own for their club sides, and then suddenly play as a two. It just didn't look natural. They worked really hard and they were lively but I just don't really feel there was any link between the two.
I also want a little bit more from Fabian Delph. So often he looks a good player but when he gets his head up for the final pass I think he needs to be a bit braver and be that creative midfielder that we need, especially when the likes of Jordan Henderson, Jesse Lingard, and Dele Alli aren't playing.
How do you imagine the players will feel after a game like that and after finishing second in the group?
DA: I think they will just be looking forward to the next game. They'll be glad it's over because it was an awkward game having already been through. They'll just want to really concentrate on the knockout phase and look to prepare properly. We haven't been in a knockout round for a long time, so for any of the players and supporters, it's massively exciting.
Is there a way to refresh how teams enter the round of 16 to ensure teams don't consider deliberately throwing matches?
DA: It should be a case where nobody knows who they're going to get and they draw it out like you would in the Champions League draw. Then teams won't even be thinking about who they're going to get, it will just be done randomly.
Do you remember a player in your career who reminds you a little of Belgian goalscorer Januzaj? He emerged as a wonderkid at Manchester United, fell off the radar a little bit, but showed his class today.
DA: The only one I can think of off the top of my head is Michael Chopra. He burst onto the scene with Newcastle as a young player, and with England youth as well, but then it never really happened for him at the top level. Then he went away to India and he's a massive star. I think Januzaj benefitted from going away from United, going to Spain, and I actually thought he put together a much more complete performance tonight than I've probably seen from him during the whole time he was in England.
Do some players just struggle under the glare of being at a bigger club?
DA: Of course, especially when you're young. When you have that pressure of having to deliver week in, week out and you're still making mistakes as a young player I think it can be very, very difficult. Sometimes you need to take a step away and rebuild at a different club where you haven't got the same pressures and you can learn. Then you can come back stronger.
There's lots of examples of that, Harry Kane being one. He went out on loan, initially didn't do very well but built up his confidence over time and then suddenly he was ready for Tottenham.
How precious could less travel and one extra day of rest be before the Colombia game in Moscow?
DA: There's no doubt that coming second, in a lot of ways, is the better draw. It means you don't have to do a lot of travelling which will be huge for the players, and you get an extra day's rest as well which is really important. I'd like to think Southgate will have a fresh set of players ready for that knockout round.
You said you would offer a prediction over how far England can go after the Belgium match. Have you got the prediction?
DA: With the way they've played, there's no reason why we shouldn't believe we can get to the semi-final. If we have the ability to play two holding midfielders I think we're going to be really difficult to beat. And with Kane and some of the forward players we've got, we're going to be dangerous against any team. I think we should be aiming for the semi-finals, and after that, you never know.
And would the players be looking at how some of the big-name teams are performing in the tournament and take confidence from that?
DA: If you were looking across the way and all the so-called bigger teams were winning heavily and looking dangerous then of course you'd be slightly worried about having to play them. What you want to be able to see as a player is that the other teams have weaknesses you can exploit. I think all the teams have shown some weakness and that gives you a little boost.
This interview has been edited and condensed. If you have a question for Dean, please submit it to @danieljrouse on Twitter.
(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)
