Three Lions' top talents can't fit in the same lineup - does the manager have a point?
With six wins out of six, an unbreached defense and a World Cup spot confirmed with matches remaining, Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel could suggest he has got all of his big qualifying decisions correct.
Yet, in the build-up to Thursday's domestic match against Serbia, he raised questions when he claimed that three of the England's elite footballers - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - are unable to feature in the equivalent formation.
"Presently, if we maintain the formation, they cannot play.
"They might but not with current tactics, not for the balance that we created and not within the framework that also includes wingers who are essentially experts in their positions. We presently employ with a six, eight, a 10 and a nine."
From certain starters to fighting for spots
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 Arsenal's winger are his first choices on the left and right flank respectively.
So can Bellingham, Foden and Kane play together?
Former Three Lions boss evidently thought it possible.
Bellingham, Foden and Kane started all of England's seven fixtures at last summer's tournament in Germany, where the England team lost to Spain in the final.
In the 16 matches the trio have played 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 utilized a 4-2-3-1 formation that changes shape when England attack.
The young midfielder has been the primary attacking midfielder because of his impressive ball progression, shooting ability and capacity to penetrate the area when the forward retreats.
Tuchel has mentioned preferring natural flank operators. The Arsenal and Newcastle stars consistently operate in wide areas and can hold the ball well, take their full-back on, and appear in scoring positions.
Supporting the attacking quartet, Tuchel utilizes two central midfielders consisting of a holding midfielder and another with greater freedom to contribute to the attack.
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 play as the number nine, which potentially could enable both Bellingham and Foden to operate without the captain.
There is one way all three could play in this system and Tuchel suggested it this week.
"At Manchester City, he operates similarly to a central or attacking midfielder, so potentially in future we regard him as a box-to-box player," he said.
Foden has been deployed in a versatile central position this season.
That has allowed him to take responsibility deeper and could categorize him as the number eight, paired with a defensive anchor.
This would then permit Bellingham to feature as the creative force and Kane as the nine.
No matter whether Tuchel decides to set England up like this at the World Cup, what bodes well is his readiness to exclude star names in the pursuit of tactical equilibrium.
