Kane, Bellingham and Foden can't fit in the same lineup - 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, Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel could suggest he has chosen wisely throughout qualification.
Yet, in the lead-up to Thursday's home game against Serbia, he sparked a debate when he claimed that three of the England's elite footballers - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - cannot play in the same team.
"At the moment, if we keep the structure, they won't fit together.
"It's possible but not with current tactics, not for the balance that we created and not in this formation that incorporates wingers who are essentially experts in their positions. We presently employ with a six, eight, a 10 and a nine."
From automatic picks to contested places
England's creative talents have been used in wide positions for England in the past, but the manager's choices suggest that the Manchester United forward and the Gunners' star are his preferred options on the left and right flank respectively.
So can Bellingham, Foden and Kane operate simultaneously?
The previous England manager certainly thought so.
Bellingham, Foden and Kane were selected for each England's seven fixtures at Euro 2024 in Germany, where the England team lost to Spain in the final.
In the 16 games the three have featured together, England have secured 10 victories, drawn three and been defeated three times, scoring 36 times and allowing 14 goals.
Strategic view: Versatile Foden offers solutions
Tuchel has employed a four-two-three-one setup that transforms formation when England attack.
The young midfielder has been the main number 10 because of his strong ball-carrying, ball-striking and capacity to penetrate the area when the forward retreats.
Tuchel has mentioned preferring specialist wingers. The Arsenal and Newcastle stars regularly feature on the wings and can maintain possession effectively, engage in one-on-one situations, 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 attacking alternatives for the attacking midfield position, with Kane likely to start up front.
Foden could operate as the central striker, which in theory could enable both Bellingham and Foden to feature instead of Kane.
There is a potential solution all three could play in this system and Tuchel alluded to it this week.
"For Man City, he plays almost like a number eight or 10, so maybe during the next months we consider him as a central midfielder," he said.
Foden has been deployed in a versatile central position this season.
That has enabled him to operate from deeper areas and could categorize him as the central midfielder, next to a more defensive number six.
This would then enable Bellingham to operate as the attacking midfielder and Kane as the center forward.
Irrespective of whether Tuchel opts to structure the side like this at the global tournament, what seems encouraging is his readiness to exclude star names in the name of balance.
