Kane, Bellingham and Foden can't operate simultaneously - does the manager have a point?
Having secured six victories in six games, no goals conceded and a World Cup spot confirmed with matches remaining, England manager Thomas Tuchel can argue he has got all of his big qualifying decisions correct.
Nevertheless, in the build-up to Thursday's home game against Serbia, he raised questions when he said that three of the England's elite footballers - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - struggle to perform in the equivalent formation.
"Presently, if we stick with the system, they cannot play.
"They can but not in the structure, not for the balance that we developed and not for the structure that incorporates wingers who are highly specialized in their positions. We presently employ with specific numbered positions."
From automatic picks to contested places
England's creative talents have been utilized out wide for England in the past, but Tuchel's selections imply that the Barcelona loanee and Arsenal's winger are his preferred options on the wing positions respectively.
So can 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 games at the European Championship in Germany, where the national squad lost to Spain in the final.
In the 16 matches the stars have performed together, England have won 10, drawn three and suffered three losses, registering 36 scores and allowing 14 goals.
Tactical insight: Foden's flexibility provides alternatives
Tuchel has played a 4-2-3-1 system that changes shape when England attack.
The young midfielder has been the key creative force because of his impressive ball progression, strike quality and skill in entering the penalty area when the number nine withdraws.
Tuchel has discussed favoring specialist wingers. Saka and Gordon play out wide weekly and can hold the ball well, 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 one with more license to contribute to the attack.
Potential configurations for England's stars
Foden and Bellingham would be vying against Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers and Eberechi Eze for the attacking midfield position, with Kane probably featuring up front.
Foden could play as the central striker, which theoretically could allow both Bellingham and Foden to operate without the captain.
There is a potential solution all three could coexist effectively and Tuchel alluded to it this week.
"At Manchester City, he plays almost like a number eight or 10, so potentially in future we consider him as a number eight," he said.
Foden has been used in a more all-purpose midfield role this season.
That has enabled him to operate from deeper areas and could categorize him as the number eight, next to a more defensive number six.
This would then enable Bellingham to operate as the number 10 and Kane as the center forward.
Regardless of if Tuchel opts to structure the side like this at the international competition, what seems encouraging is his readiness to exclude star names in the pursuit of tactical equilibrium.
