Kane, Bellingham and Foden can't operate simultaneously - does the manager have a point?
With six wins from six matches, no goals conceded and tournament placement assured before the final rounds, Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel could suggest he has chosen wisely throughout qualification.
Yet, in the build-up to Thursday's domestic match against Serbia, he raised questions when he stated that three of the country's best players - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - cannot play in the same team.
"At the moment, if we stick with the system, they cannot play.
"It's possible but not with current tactics, not for the balance that we developed and not for the structure that incorporates wingers who are essentially experts in their positions. We play at the moment with defensive, central, attacking midfielders and striker."
From automatic picks to contested places
England's creative talents have been utilized out wide for England in the past, but Tuchel's selections imply that the Manchester United forward and the Gunners' star are his preferred options on the wide areas respectively.
But can Bellingham, Foden and Kane coexist in the lineup?
Former Three Lions boss evidently thought it possible.
Bellingham, Foden and Kane started all of England's seven matches at Euro 2024 in Germany, where the England team were defeated by Spain in the final.
In the 16 fixtures the stars have performed together, England have won 10, drawn three and suffered three losses, registering 36 scores and letting in 14 strikes.
Analysis: Foden's versatility gives Tuchel options
Tuchel has played a 4-2-3-1 system that changes shape when England attack.
The Aston Villa player has been the key creative force because of his impressive ball progression, shooting ability and capacity to penetrate the area when the striker drops deep.
Tuchel has mentioned preferring natural flank operators. The Arsenal and Newcastle stars consistently operate in wide areas and can retain the ball skillfully, take their full-back on, and enter the area to finish.
Supporting the attacking quartet, Tuchel employs a double pivot consisting of a holding midfielder and another with greater freedom to support offensive play.
What solutions exist for the trio?
Foden and Bellingham would be competing with other creative midfielders for the number 10 role, with Kane likely to start up front.
Foden could play as the number nine, which theoretically could enable both Bellingham and Foden to feature instead of Kane.
There is a potential solution all three could feature together 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 view him as a box-to-box player," he said.
Foden has been used in a more all-purpose midfield role this season.
That has enabled him to operate from deeper areas and could position him as the number eight, 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 chooses to configure the team like this at the global tournament, what bodes well is his readiness to exclude star names in the pursuit of tactical equilibrium.
