England “cannot afford to mismanage” their “massive talents” said Gary Neville after another underwhelming performance resulted in a 0-0 draw with Slovenia.
The Three Lions go into the last 16 as Group C winners – but they only managed two goals in a group where only one team won a game.
Jude Bellingham netted to earn an opening 1-0 victory over Serbia, with Harry Kane then scoring in a 1-1 draw with Denmark.
Manager Gareth Southgate’s team selection has been questioned during the Euros and it remained a key issue in Cologne on Tuesday.
“England have Cole Palmer, Bukayo Saka, Jude Bellingham, Kobbie Mainoo, Phil Foden – massive, massive talents and we cannot afford to mismanage them,” said former England defender Neville on ITV.
Assessing the squad’s young midfield and forward options, Neville added: “We are the only country in the world who continually ask, ‘where can these players fit?’.”
England started the first two games with right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold in central midfield. Conor Gallagher replaced him against Slovenia, before being withdrawn at half-time for Mainoo.
Southgate’s side were seen by many as joint favourites with France before the tournament began, but performances have not matched expectations.
“I think all of the England supporters are worried with what they’re seeing,” said ex-England defender Conor Coady on BBC Radio 5 Live.
“We wanted this to be the game where England arrived on this huge stage and say: ‘England are finally here!’
“We haven’t seen that. There was nothing in the game to suggest that. There were a few half-chances and the bright cameo from Cole Palmer, but aside from that it was more of the same.”
England will face a third-placed team on Sunday, potentially the Netherlands.
Leicester centre-back Coady said: “When you get through the group you then have that moment of ‘now it gets really tough’.
“It is now or never. If you don’t do it right then you could be sat there in the dressing room come Sunday with your plane ticket home the next day.”
England rank 17th out of 24 teams for the amount of shots taken in this tournament – 29 – and 19th for expected goals – 2.26.
“If we are honest, we didn’t get the performance what England fans are looking for,” said former England midfielder Jermaine Jenas on BBC Match of the Day.
“I think most fans have left this stadium with more questions than answers.”