Gary Cahill said England had done all they could to get the better of Slovakia in St Etienne.
A 0-0 draw, despite the bulk of the possession, left Roy Hodgson's team second in Group B behind Wales and awaiting a clash with the runners-up of Group F next Monday.
"We tried and tried, time and time again," Cahill told ITV Sport.
"They shut the door in our face. There is disappointment for us tonight. We dominated from start to finish but couldn't shut the door."
Hodgson made six changes but Cahill did not think that was a factor.
"I don't think so," he said.
"We had the ball constantly, we didn't have the cutting edge to open them up. In a game like that you need something special.
"We move on, we know we have a huge game coming up, it gives us time to get back fresh."
Watch: England fans disappointed after Slovakia draw
England's star man
Eric Dier. In an otherwise frustrating performance it is hard to find fault with England's midfield anchor man. Dier is becoming an increasingly impressive figure despite his modest experience at this level. His day job of sweeping up in front of the back four proved so comfortably within his grasp, he grew in stature as the game unfolded. Often he was to be found pushing up the pitch, breaking through the middle and picking out team-mates in space. He looks a born leader and probable future captain.
Moment of the match
In the absence of a goal England fans must pick whatever they can from the bones of this match. Dier provided two of the best, with special passes that are hard to pick apart in terms of quality. In the first half he found Nathaniel Clyne with a delightfully judged 45-yard cross-field ball that any midfielder in the tournament would have put their name to. In the second he chipped a sumptuous pass over the top for Daniel Sturridge. Each time it came to nothing, but he played his part magnificently.
Moan of the match
England's failure to use the lethal weapon that is Jamie Vardy sufficiently is a sin. He may have missed with his best chance of the match, a one on one with Matus Kozacik, but the speed he showed to get on the end of that move terrified Slovakia. Why was he not given any more balls over the top to hunt down? Leicester made good on a 5000-1 shot by doing just that.
View from the dugout
Roy Hodgson knew he was taking a risk by ringing the changes - six of them, no less - for a game England still needed to win. He must take the responsibility then, having opened himself to the suggestion that he was taking Slovakia lightly. Wayne Rooney and Dele Alli certainly improved things after their introduction but should they have started the game?
England player ratings
Joe Hart: 6
Nathaniel Clyne: 7
Gary Cahill: 6
Chris Smalling: 6
Ryan Bertrand: 6
Eric Dier: 8
Jack Wilshere: 5
Jordan Henderson: 6
Adam Lallana: 6
Jamie Vardy: 6
Daniel Sturridge: 6
Substitutes: Wayne Rooney (for Wilshere, 56) 7
Dele Alli (for Lallana, 60) 6
Harry Kane (for Sturridge, 76) 6
