Kane, Bellingham and Foden are unable to operate simultaneously - is Tuchel right?
With six wins out of six, an unbreached defense and World Cup qualification secured with two group games to spare, England manager Thomas Tuchel can argue he has chosen wisely throughout qualification.
Yet, in the preparation for Thursday's domestic match against Serbia, he raised questions when he claimed that three of the nation's top talents - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - struggle to perform in the same team.
"Currently, if we maintain the formation, they cannot play.
"They might but not within this system, not for the balance that we developed and not within the framework that comes also with wingers who are like specialists in their positions. We presently employ with specific numbered positions."
From certain starters to fighting for spots
England's creative talents have been used in wide positions for England in the past, but Tuchel's selections indicate that the Barcelona loanee and the Gunners' star are his preferred options on the wing positions respectively.
So can Bellingham, Foden and Kane coexist in the lineup?
Gareth Southgate evidently thought it possible.
Bellingham, Foden and Kane started all of England's seven matches at the European Championship in Germany, where the England team were defeated by Spain in the final.
In the 16 fixtures the trio have played together, England have won 10, tied three matches and lost three, scoring 36 times and conceding 14.
Strategic view: Versatile Foden offers solutions
Tuchel has utilized a 4-2-3-1 formation that transforms formation when England attack.
The young midfielder has been the main number 10 because of his strong ball-carrying, ball-striking and capacity to penetrate the area when the forward retreats.
Tuchel has discussed favoring specialist wingers. Saka and Gordon play out wide weekly and can maintain possession effectively, engage in one-on-one situations, and arrive in the box to score.
Supporting the attacking quartet, Tuchel utilizes two central midfielders consisting of one defensively strict player and a partner with attacking liberty to join the forward movement.
So how could Tuchel use these three players?
Foden and Bellingham would be battling with attacking alternatives for the creative hub, with Kane expected to lead up front.
Foden could play as the central striker, which theoretically could enable both Bellingham and Foden to play at Kane's expense.
There is one way all three could feature together and Tuchel suggested it this week.
"At Manchester City, he operates similarly to a box-to-box or creative role, so maybe during the next months we regard him as a number eight," he said.
Foden has been deployed in a versatile central position this season.
That has allowed him to take responsibility deeper and could make him an option as the central midfielder, next to a more defensive number six.
This would then allow Bellingham to play as the number 10 and Kane as the center forward.
No matter whether Tuchel opts to structure the side like this at the global tournament, what bodes well is his preparedness to omit established stars in the name of balance.
