Kane, Bellingham and Foden can't operate simultaneously - is Tuchel right?
With six wins out of six, no goals conceded and World Cup qualification secured with two group games to spare, national team coach Thomas Tuchel can argue he has chosen wisely throughout qualification.
However, in the lead-up to Thursday's home game against Serbia, he sparked a debate when he stated that three of the nation's top talents - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - cannot play in the equivalent formation.
"Currently, if we stick with the system, they cannot play.
"They might but not in the structure, not for the balance that we developed and not in this formation that also includes wingers who are highly specialized in their positions. We presently employ with a six, eight, a 10 and a nine."
From guaranteed positions to competitive roles
The Manchester City and Real Madrid stars have been utilized out wide for England in the past, but the manager's choices imply that the Manchester United forward and the Gunners' star are his primary selections on the wide areas respectively.
So can Bellingham, Foden and Kane play together?
Gareth Southgate certainly thought so.
Bellingham, Foden and Kane started all of England's seven matches at the European Championship in Germany, where Southgate's side fell to the Spanish in the final.
In the 16 games the stars have performed simultaneously, England have won 10, tied three matches and lost three, scoring 36 times and conceding 14.
Analysis: Foden's versatility gives Tuchel options
Tuchel has played a 4-2-3-1 system that transforms formation when England attack.
Morgan Rogers has been the main number 10 because of his strong ball-carrying, shooting ability and skill in entering the penalty area when the number nine withdraws.
Tuchel has spoken about preferring natural flank operators. The wide attackers play out wide weekly and can retain the ball skillfully, take their full-back on, and arrive in the box to score.
Behind this front four, 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 battling with other creative midfielders for the creative hub, with Kane expected to lead up front.
Foden could operate as the central striker, which theoretically could enable both Bellingham and Foden to play at Kane's expense.
There is an alternative approach all three could feature together and Tuchel alluded to it this week.
"For Man City, he operates similarly to a central or attacking midfielder, so perhaps in coming months we consider him as a central midfielder," he said.
Foden has been used in a more all-purpose midfield role this season.
That has permitted him to contribute from midfield and could position him as the advanced playmaker, paired with a defensive anchor.
This would then permit Bellingham to feature as the number 10 and Kane as the nine.
No matter whether Tuchel decides to set England up like this at the international competition, what bodes well is his willingness to leave big players out in the pursuit of tactical equilibrium.
