An early World Cup exit stands as a lesson England's younger generation must learn from but Ross Barkley admits this summer's failure will remain just that unless their performances improve with age.
Roy Hodgson's subdued squad returned home on Wednesday far earlier than most would have anticipated – two defeats and a goalless draw in Group D seeing to that.
Arguably the only solace to be taken from Brazil was that the likes of 18-year-old Luke Shaw, 19-year-old Raheem Sterling and Barkley, himself only 20, would be better for the experience.
Add in Arsenal's Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who missed out on any action through injury, and Jack Wilshere and you have the probable bare bones of England's Euro 2016 side.
Barkley rose to prominence with Everton last season, scoring six times in 34 Premier League appearances, and showed enough to suggest he will be at the epicentre of England's future.
But the midfielder insists if he and England's other young Lions can't replicate their club form at the international level then there may be a familiar feeling of despair in two year's time.
"It's a big disappointment being in a tournament, going out early and I'll learn from it," said Barkley, who featured in all three of England's group games. "But you've got to have these types of things to learn from them.
"We've got good young players – Jack [Wilshere], Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, Raheem Sterling – we've got other young lads coming through that are showing what they can do in the Premier League week in, week out.
"But we have to be able to do that at international level as we get older and hopefully in two years' time at the Euros we'll be ready for that.
"I've got to be positive and in two years' time we have to be thinking that we can do well in that tournament."
Having created history for all the wrong reasons – England hadn't fallen at the group stages since 1958 – Hodgson and company will be licking their wounds for a while still.
It remains to be seen what will happen to some of the Three Lions' greatest servants with Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard yet to announce their international futures.
But Barkley has a clear idea of what has to be done on his part, admitting a standout season with the Toffees will go a long way to cementing his place in England's XI.
"We'll be seeing teams playing in the World Cup and we won't be there," he added. "We want to be in these big tournaments because we've got the players to be in them – but unfortunately we weren't able to do that.
"For me personally, I've got to go back and do well for my club and make sure I cement my place in the England squad.
"The experienced players aren't getting any younger so the young lads have got to step in and be counted for and do well for my country."
