Three Lions' top talents can't operate simultaneously - what's the verdict?
Having secured six victories out of six, no goals conceded and World Cup qualification secured with two group games to spare, England manager Thomas Tuchel might claim he has got all of his big qualifying decisions correct.
Nevertheless, in the build-up to Thursday's Wembley encounter against Serbia, he initiated discussion when he claimed that three of the England's elite footballers - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - are unable to feature in the same team.
"At the moment, if we stick with the system, they won't fit together.
"They can but not in the structure, not for the balance that we developed and not within the framework that also includes wingers who are essentially experts in their positions. We currently utilize with defensive, central, attacking midfielders and striker."
From automatic picks to contested places
The Manchester City and Real Madrid stars have been deployed on the flanks for England in the past, but Tuchel's selections suggest that the Manchester United forward and Arsenal's winger are his first choices on the wide areas 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 fixtures at Euro 2024 in Germany, where the England team lost to Spain in the final.
In the 16 matches the stars have performed alongside each other, England have won 10, tied three matches and suffered three losses, netting 36 goals and letting in 14 strikes.
Tactical insight: Foden's flexibility provides alternatives
Tuchel has employed a four-two-three-one setup that alters structure when England attack.
Morgan Rogers has been the main number 10 because of his strong ball-carrying, strike quality and skill in entering the penalty area when the striker drops deep.
Tuchel has spoken about preferring dedicated wide players. The wide attackers consistently operate in wide areas and can hold the ball well, engage in one-on-one situations, and enter the area to finish.
Behind this front four, Tuchel plays with a midfield two 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 attacking alternatives for the creative hub, with Kane likely to start up front.
Foden could operate as the main forward, which in theory could allow both Bellingham and Foden to play at Kane's expense.
There is a potential solution all three could play in this system and Tuchel alluded to it this week.
"At Manchester City, he plays almost like a box-to-box or creative role, so perhaps in coming months we view him as a box-to-box player," he said.
Foden has been deployed in a versatile central position this season.
That has permitted him to contribute from midfield and could categorize him as the central midfielder, alongside a holding midfielder.
This would then permit Bellingham to feature as the creative force and Kane as the nine.
Regardless of if Tuchel decides to set England up like this at the World Cup, what bodes well is his readiness to exclude star names in the pursuit of tactical equilibrium.
