Three Lions' top talents can't operate simultaneously - does the manager have a point?
Having secured six victories from six matches, no goals conceded and a World Cup spot confirmed with matches remaining, Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel can argue he has got all of his big qualifying decisions correct.
Nevertheless, in the preparation for Thursday's home game against Serbia, he raised questions when he said that three of the country's best players - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - cannot play in the identical lineup.
"Currently, if we keep the structure, they are unable to feature.
"It's possible but not with current tactics, not for the balance that we created and not in this formation that also includes wingers who are essentially experts in their positions. We play at the moment with defensive, central, attacking midfielders and striker."
From guaranteed positions to competitive roles
The Manchester City and Real Madrid stars have been deployed on the flanks for England in the past, but the manager's choices indicate that Marcus Rashford and the Gunners' star are his first choices on the wing positions respectively.
So can Bellingham, Foden and Kane coexist in the lineup?
The previous England manager evidently thought it possible.
Bellingham, Foden and Kane started all of England's seven matches at Euro 2024 in Germany, where the England team were defeated by Spain in the final.
In the 16 fixtures the stars have performed simultaneously, England have triumphed 10 times, shared points three times and lost three, scoring 36 times and conceding 14.
Tactical insight: Foden's flexibility provides alternatives
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 impressive ball progression, strike quality and ability to attack the box when the number nine withdraws.
Tuchel has mentioned preferring natural flank operators. Saka and Gordon regularly feature on the wings and can hold the ball well, challenge defenders, and arrive in the box to score.
Supporting the attacking quartet, Tuchel utilizes two central midfielders consisting of a holding midfielder and one with more license to join the forward movement.
Potential configurations for England's stars
Foden and Bellingham would be battling with other creative midfielders for the attacking midfield position, with Kane probably featuring 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 hinted at it this week.
"For Man City, he operates similarly to a number eight or 10, so perhaps in coming months we regard him as a number eight," he said.
Foden has been utilized as a flexible midfielder this season.
That has allowed him to take responsibility deeper and could position him as the central midfielder, next to a more defensive number six.
This would then permit Bellingham to feature as the number 10 and Kane as the center forward.
No matter whether Tuchel opts to structure the side like this at the World Cup, what seems encouraging is his readiness to exclude star names in the name of balance.
