England's star trio are unable to fit in the same lineup - does the manager have a point?
After achieving six consecutive triumphs out of six, zero goals allowed and World Cup qualification confirmed with matches remaining, Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel might claim he has made the right selection choices.
However, in the lead-up to Thursday's domestic match against Serbia, he raised questions when he stated that three of the England's elite footballers - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - struggle to perform in the same team.
"Presently, if we maintain the formation, they cannot play.
"They can but not in the structure, not maintaining equilibrium that we created and not for the structure that comes also with wingers who are highly specialized in their positions. We presently employ with specific numbered positions."
From guaranteed positions to competitive roles
England's creative talents have been utilized out wide for England in the past, but Tuchel's selections suggest that the Manchester United forward and the Gunners' star are his preferred options on the wing positions respectively.
The question remains whether Bellingham, Foden and Kane play together?
Former Three Lions boss apparently believed they could.
Bellingham, Foden and Kane started all of England's seven matches at the European Championship in Germany, where the England team fell to the Spanish in the final.
In the 16 games the stars have performed together, England have secured 10 victories, tied three matches and lost three, netting 36 goals and conceding 14.
Strategic view: Versatile Foden offers solutions
Tuchel has employed a four-two-three-one setup that changes shape when England attack.
The Aston Villa player has been the key creative force because of his impressive ball progression, strike quality and ability to attack the box when the striker drops deep.
Tuchel has discussed favoring natural flank operators. The Arsenal and Newcastle stars play out wide weekly and can retain the ball skillfully, engage in one-on-one situations, and enter the area to finish.
In midfield behind the attackers, Tuchel utilizes two central midfielders consisting of a holding midfielder and a partner with attacking liberty to contribute to the attack.
Potential configurations for England's stars
Foden and Bellingham would be vying against other creative midfielders for the attacking midfield position, with Kane expected to lead up front.
Foden could operate as the number nine, which theoretically could enable both Bellingham and Foden to play at Kane's expense.
There is an alternative approach all three could play in this system and Tuchel suggested it this week.
"For Man City, he operates similarly to a central or attacking midfielder, so maybe during the next months we consider him as a box-to-box player," he said.
Foden has been deployed in a versatile central position this season.
That has enabled him to operate from deeper areas and could categorize him as the advanced playmaker, next to a more defensive number six.
This would then allow Bellingham to play as the creative force and Kane as the nine.
No matter whether Tuchel opts to structure the side like this at the global tournament, what seems encouraging is his preparedness to omit established stars in the pursuit of tactical equilibrium.
