Three Lions' top talents can't operate simultaneously - what's the verdict?
With six wins out of six, no goals conceded and World Cup qualification confirmed with matches remaining, Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel can argue he has got all of his big qualifying decisions correct.
Nevertheless, in the build-up to Thursday's domestic match against Serbia, he sparked a debate when he stated that three of the nation's top talents - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - are unable to feature in the same team.
"Presently, if we stick with the system, they cannot play.
"They might but not in the structure, not preserving harmony that we established and not in this formation that comes also with wingers who are essentially experts in their positions. We presently employ with defensive, central, attacking midfielders and striker."
From guaranteed positions to competitive roles
England's creative talents have been utilized out wide for England in the past, but his team selections suggest that the Manchester United forward and Arsenal's winger are his primary selections on the wide areas respectively.
So can Bellingham, Foden and Kane coexist in the lineup?
The previous England manager apparently believed they could.
Bellingham, Foden and Kane featured in every England's seven matches at the European Championship in Germany, where the England team were defeated by Spain in the final.
In the 16 fixtures the stars have performed alongside each other, England have triumphed 10 times, drawn three and lost three, registering 36 scores and conceding 14.
Tactical insight: Foden's flexibility provides alternatives
Tuchel has employed a four-two-three-one setup that changes shape when England attack.
Morgan Rogers has been the main number 10 because of his excellent dribbling, strike quality and capacity to penetrate the area when the number nine withdraws.
Tuchel has mentioned preferring specialist wingers. The wide attackers play out wide weekly and can hold the ball well, challenge defenders, and arrive in the box to score.
Supporting the attacking quartet, Tuchel utilizes two central midfielders consisting of a disciplined defensive presence and a partner with attacking liberty to join the forward movement.
So how could Tuchel use these three players?
Foden and Bellingham would be vying against other creative midfielders for the creative hub, with Kane expected to lead up front.
Foden could operate as the number nine, which theoretically could permit both Bellingham and Foden to operate without the captain.
There is one way all three could feature together and Tuchel alluded to it this week.
"With his club, he plays almost like a central or attacking midfielder, so potentially in future we view him as a central midfielder," he said.
Foden has been used in a more all-purpose midfield role this season.
That has allowed him to take responsibility deeper and could make him an option as the number eight, paired with a defensive anchor.
This would then allow Bellingham to play as the creative force and Kane as the center forward.
No matter whether Tuchel opts to structure the side like this at the World Cup, what seems encouraging is his willingness to leave big players out in the pursuit of tactical equilibrium.
