Kane, Bellingham and Foden can't operate simultaneously - does the manager have a point?
Having secured six victories out of six, an unbreached defense and a World Cup spot assured before the final rounds, Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel can argue he has chosen wisely throughout qualification.
However, in the lead-up to Thursday's domestic match against Serbia, he initiated discussion when he said that three of the England's elite footballers - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - struggle to perform in the identical lineup.
"Currently, if we keep the structure, they won't fit together.
"It's possible but not within this system, not for the balance that we created and not within the framework that comes also with wingers who are essentially experts in their positions. We play at the moment with a six, eight, a 10 and a nine."
From guaranteed positions to competitive roles
Foden and Bellingham have been used in wide positions for England in the past, but the manager's choices suggest that the Manchester United forward and the Gunners' star are his primary selections on the wide areas respectively.
The question remains whether Bellingham, Foden and Kane coexist in the lineup?
The previous England manager apparently believed they could.
Bellingham, Foden and Kane were selected for each England's seven games at last summer's tournament in Germany, where Southgate's side fell to the Spanish in the final.
In the 16 games the three have featured together, England have triumphed 10 times, shared points three times and lost three, registering 36 scores and conceding 14.
Strategic view: Versatile Foden offers solutions
Tuchel has utilized a 4-2-3-1 formation that alters structure when England attack.
The young midfielder has been the main number 10 because of his impressive ball progression, strike quality and capacity to penetrate the area when the number nine withdraws.
Tuchel has spoken about preferring dedicated wide players. Saka and Gordon consistently operate in wide areas and can maintain possession effectively, engage in one-on-one situations, and enter the area to finish.
Supporting the attacking quartet, Tuchel utilizes two central midfielders consisting of a disciplined defensive presence and a partner with attacking liberty to support offensive play.
Potential configurations for England's stars
Foden and Bellingham would be vying against other creative midfielders for the number 10 role, with Kane probably featuring up front.
Foden could operate as the main forward, which potentially could allow both Bellingham and Foden to operate without the captain.
There is one way all three could coexist effectively and Tuchel hinted at it this week.
"With his club, he functions as a central or attacking midfielder, so maybe during the next months we consider 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 advanced playmaker, alongside a holding midfielder.
This would then enable Bellingham to operate as the creative force and Kane as the center forward.
No matter whether Tuchel decides to set England up like this at the global tournament, what appears positive is his preparedness to omit established stars in the pursuit of tactical equilibrium.
