Kane, Bellingham and Foden can't operate simultaneously - is Tuchel right?
Having secured six victories in six games, an unbreached defense and World Cup qualification assured before the final rounds, England manager Thomas Tuchel might claim he has made the right selection choices.
However, in the build-up to Thursday's Wembley encounter against Serbia, he sparked a debate when he said that three of the country's best players - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - struggle to perform in the equivalent formation.
"Currently, if we maintain the formation, they won't fit together.
"It's possible but not within this system, not for the balance that we created and not in this formation that also includes wingers who are highly specialized in their positions. We currently utilize with a six, eight, a 10 and a nine."
From automatic picks to contested places
England's creative talents have been utilized out wide for England in the past, but his team selections suggest that the Barcelona loanee and Bukayo Saka are his first choices on the wing positions respectively.
But can Bellingham, Foden and Kane operate simultaneously?
Gareth Southgate certainly thought so.
Bellingham, Foden and Kane were selected for each England's seven fixtures at last summer's tournament in Germany, where the England team fell to the Spanish in the final.
In the 16 fixtures the trio have played alongside each other, England have triumphed 10 times, drawn three and lost three, registering 36 scores and allowing 14 goals.
Analysis: Foden's versatility gives Tuchel options
Tuchel has played a 4-2-3-1 system that transforms formation when England attack.
The young midfielder has been the primary attacking midfielder because of his excellent dribbling, strike quality and capacity to penetrate the area when the forward retreats.
Tuchel has spoken about preferring natural flank operators. The wide attackers consistently operate in wide areas and can maintain possession effectively, challenge defenders, and appear in scoring positions.
In midfield behind the attackers, Tuchel utilizes two central midfielders consisting of a holding midfielder and one with more license to join the forward movement.
Potential configurations for England's stars
Foden and Bellingham would be battling with Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers and Eberechi Eze for the creative hub, with Kane likely to start up front.
Foden could operate as the main forward, which in theory could permit both Bellingham and Foden to feature instead of Kane.
There is an alternative approach all three could coexist effectively and Tuchel alluded to it this week.
"For Man City, he operates similarly to a box-to-box or creative role, so perhaps in coming months we regard him as a number eight," he said.
Foden has been utilized as a flexible midfielder this season.
That has enabled him to operate from deeper areas and could categorize him as the advanced playmaker, next to a more defensive number six.
This would then permit Bellingham to feature as the attacking midfielder and Kane as the striker.
Irrespective of whether Tuchel chooses to configure the team like this at the World Cup, what appears positive is his preparedness to omit established stars in the name of balance.
