Three Lions' top talents struggle to operate simultaneously - does the manager have a point?
After achieving six consecutive triumphs out of six, no goals conceded and World Cup qualification confirmed with matches remaining, England manager Thomas Tuchel can argue he has got all of his big qualifying decisions correct.
Yet, in the lead-up to Thursday's home game against Serbia, he sparked a debate when he said that three of the nation's top talents - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - cannot play in the same team.
"Presently, if we maintain the formation, they are unable to feature.
"They might but not within this system, not preserving harmony that we developed and not in this formation that also includes wingers who are essentially experts in their positions. We currently utilize with specific numbered positions."
From guaranteed positions to competitive roles
Foden and Bellingham have been used in wide positions for England in the past, but Tuchel's selections indicate that the Manchester United forward and the Gunners' star are his first choices on the wing positions respectively.
So can Bellingham, Foden and Kane coexist in the lineup?
Former Three Lions boss certainly thought so.
Bellingham, Foden and Kane featured in every England's seven fixtures at last summer's tournament in Germany, where the national squad lost to Spain in the final.
In the 16 fixtures the trio have played alongside each other, England have won 10, shared points three times and suffered three losses, registering 36 scores and conceding 14.
Tactical insight: Foden's flexibility provides alternatives
Tuchel has employed a four-two-three-one setup that transforms formation when England attack.
The Aston Villa player has been the key creative force because of his excellent dribbling, strike quality and capacity to penetrate the area when the striker drops deep.
Tuchel has spoken about preferring dedicated wide players. 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 another with greater freedom to support offensive play.
Potential configurations for England's stars
Foden and Bellingham would be competing with Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers and Eberechi Eze for the creative hub, with Kane probably featuring up front.
Foden could play as the main forward, which in theory 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 alluded to it this week.
"At Manchester City, he functions as a central or attacking midfielder, so potentially in future we consider him as a box-to-box player," 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 advanced playmaker, alongside a holding midfielder.
This would then enable Bellingham to operate as the creative force and Kane as the striker.
Regardless of if Tuchel opts to structure the side like this at the global tournament, what appears positive is his readiness to exclude star names in the pursuit of tactical equilibrium.
