England's star trio can't operate simultaneously - what's the verdict?
Having secured six victories out of six, an unbreached defense and a World Cup spot confirmed with matches remaining, national team coach Thomas Tuchel could suggest he has got all of his big qualifying decisions correct.
However, in the preparation for Thursday's home game against Serbia, he sparked a debate when he stated that three of the country's best players - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - struggle to perform in the identical lineup.
"Currently, if we stick with the system, they are unable to feature.
"It's possible but not within this system, not preserving harmony that we established and not for the structure that incorporates wingers who are essentially experts in their positions. We presently employ with a six, eight, a 10 and a nine."
From automatic picks to contested places
The Manchester City and Real Madrid stars have been utilized out wide for England in the past, but Tuchel's selections suggest that the Barcelona loanee and Arsenal's winger are his primary selections on the wing positions respectively.
The question remains whether Bellingham, Foden and Kane coexist in the lineup?
The previous England manager certainly thought so.
Bellingham, Foden and Kane were selected for each England's seven matches at Euro 2024 in Germany, where the England team lost to Spain in the final.
In the 16 matches the three have featured alongside each other, England have won 10, drawn three and lost three, registering 36 scores and allowing 14 goals.
Tactical insight: Foden's flexibility provides alternatives
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 excellent dribbling, shooting ability and capacity to penetrate the area when the forward retreats.
Tuchel has discussed favoring specialist wingers. The Arsenal and Newcastle stars regularly feature on the wings and can maintain possession effectively, engage in one-on-one situations, and enter the area to finish.
In midfield behind the attackers, Tuchel employs a double pivot consisting of a holding midfielder and another with greater freedom to contribute to the attack.
So how could Tuchel use these three players?
Foden and Bellingham would be vying against attacking alternatives for the attacking midfield position, with Kane probably featuring up front.
Foden could play as the central striker, which potentially could allow 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 box-to-box or creative role, so potentially in future we consider him as a central midfielder," he said.
Foden has been deployed in a versatile central position this season.
That has allowed him to take responsibility deeper and could categorize him as the central midfielder, paired with a defensive anchor.
This would then permit Bellingham to feature as the creative force and Kane as the nine.
No matter whether Tuchel chooses to configure the team like this at the global tournament, what seems encouraging is his willingness to leave big players out in the interest of team harmony.
