Kane, Bellingham and Foden can't play together - does the manager have a point?
Having secured six victories in six games, no goals conceded and World Cup qualification assured before the final rounds, national team coach Thomas Tuchel could suggest he has got all of his big qualifying decisions correct.
Yet, in the build-up to Thursday's Wembley encounter against Serbia, he raised questions when he claimed that three of the nation's top talents - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - struggle to perform in the equivalent formation.
"Presently, if we keep the structure, they cannot play.
"They might but not with current tactics, not maintaining equilibrium that we established and not in this formation that comes also with wingers who are highly specialized in their positions. We currently utilize with defensive, central, attacking midfielders and striker."
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 suggest that the Manchester United forward and Arsenal's winger are his first choices on the wide areas respectively.
The question remains whether Bellingham, Foden and Kane play together?
Gareth Southgate evidently thought it possible.
Bellingham, Foden and Kane featured in every England's seven matches at the European Championship in Germany, where the national squad were defeated by Spain in the final.
In the 16 fixtures the trio have played together, England have secured 10 victories, tied three matches and lost three, netting 36 goals and letting in 14 strikes.
Tactical insight: Foden's flexibility provides alternatives
Tuchel has played a 4-2-3-1 system that transforms formation when England attack.
The Aston Villa player has been the key creative force because of his strong ball-carrying, ball-striking and skill in entering the penalty area when the striker drops deep.
Tuchel has discussed favoring specialist wingers. Saka and Gordon regularly feature on the wings and can hold the ball well, challenge defenders, and arrive in the box to score.
Supporting the attacking quartet, Tuchel plays with a midfield two consisting of one defensively strict player and a partner with attacking liberty to join the forward movement.
What solutions exist for the trio?
Foden and Bellingham would be battling with Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers and Eberechi Eze for the creative hub, with Kane probably featuring up front.
Foden could operate as the number nine, which in theory could enable both Bellingham and Foden to feature instead of Kane.
There is one way all three could coexist effectively and Tuchel suggested it this week.
"For Man City, he operates similarly to a central or attacking midfielder, so perhaps in coming months we regard him as a number eight," 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 advanced playmaker, next to a more defensive number six.
This would then allow Bellingham to play as the number 10 and Kane as the center forward.
Regardless of if Tuchel decides to set England up like this at the World Cup, what bodes well is his preparedness to omit established stars in the interest of team harmony.
