Steven Gerrard has warned England must pace themselves at the European Championship if they are to avoid a repeat of past tournaments when he believes they have burnt out by the quarterfinal stage.
The rigours of a fast-paced Premier League season without a winter break have been cited for England's failure to make it to the later stages of major tournaments.
But, writing in his column for the Telegraph, former captain Gerrard insists a longer-term view with a plan to prepare for participating all the way to the semifinal or final must be adopted if England are to become a contender for sides like Germany and Spain.
He said: "There is one fundamental area where we've been found wanting. It is a lesson we must learn if we are to succeed this time. Broadly speaking, it can be described as 'tournament management.'
"In simple terms, we've not been able to cope with the demands of playing four or five demanding international games in less than two weeks. It is not the fatigue of our Premier League season that caught up with us, but the exertions of the starting XI once we reached the knockout stage of the tournament.
"There is a significant distinction between an England team going to a championship and those from Germany or Spain, and it's not just about the class of player at our disposal.
"The current world and European champions are going to France expecting to play the seven fixtures required to win the tournament and they are planning accordingly.
"For England, whether it is by circumstance or design, it always tends to be about going full-throttle in the three group games and hoping we at least make the quarterfinal.
"Speaking from personal experience, when I played in those last eight fixtures I felt physically and mentally exhausted. It was as if so much energy had been invested in getting out of the group there was little left in the tank when it was over. When we reached extra time in 2004, 2006 and 2012, it felt like we had no choice but to accept the inevitability of the shootout because we did not have the stamina needed to show our quality.
"Compare this to Germany, for example, who are the masters at pacing it to perfection. They ease into a tournament and make sure they're peaking rather than tiring towards the final week.
"There are several factors that make this easier, of course, such as the draw. It's not so easy to pace yourself when your first games are against Italy and Uruguay, for example, as was the case in Brazil. But for most of my international career there was more we could have done to avoid that physical and mental tiredness.
"I never hear about the German or Spanish team arriving at an event amid a debate as to which style or system they should play, or with question marks against several positions when it comes to naming their best side.
"They tend to glide through the group with plenty to spare, utilising the depth of their squad without over-exerting themselves. By the quarterfinal, they seem fresher -- as though their competition really starts while we're flying home."