Three Lions' top talents are unable to play together - is Tuchel right?
After achieving six consecutive triumphs out of six, an unbreached defense and World Cup qualification confirmed with matches remaining, England manager Thomas Tuchel could suggest he has got all of his big qualifying decisions correct.
However, in the build-up to Thursday's domestic match against Serbia, he initiated discussion when he claimed that three of the nation's top talents - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - struggle to perform in the identical lineup.
"At the moment, if we stick with the system, they are unable to feature.
"They might but not in the structure, not maintaining equilibrium that we created and not for the structure that incorporates wingers who are like specialists in their positions. We currently utilize with defensive, central, attacking midfielders and striker."
From automatic picks to contested places
England's creative talents have been used in wide positions for England in the past, but Tuchel's selections suggest that Marcus Rashford and the Gunners' star are his primary selections 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 fixtures at Euro 2024 in Germany, where the England team were defeated by Spain in the final.
In the 16 matches the stars have performed simultaneously, England have triumphed 10 times, drawn three and been defeated three times, netting 36 goals and allowing 14 goals.
Tactical insight: Foden's flexibility provides alternatives
Tuchel has played a 4-2-3-1 system that alters structure when England attack.
Morgan Rogers has been the main number 10 because of his excellent dribbling, strike quality and capacity to penetrate the area when the forward retreats.
Tuchel has mentioned preferring specialist wingers. The Arsenal and Newcastle stars play out wide weekly and can retain the ball skillfully, engage in one-on-one situations, and enter the area to finish.
Supporting the attacking quartet, Tuchel utilizes two central midfielders consisting of a holding midfielder and one with more license to join the forward movement.
What solutions exist for the trio?
Foden and Bellingham would be battling with other creative midfielders for the attacking midfield position, with Kane likely to start up front.
Foden could operate as the central striker, which potentially could enable both Bellingham and Foden to feature instead of Kane.
There is one way all three could feature together and Tuchel alluded to it this week.
"For Man City, he functions as a central or attacking midfielder, so perhaps in coming months we view him as a box-to-box player," he said.
Foden has been deployed in a versatile central position this season.
That has permitted him to contribute from midfield and could make him an option as the advanced playmaker, alongside a holding midfielder.
This would then allow Bellingham to play as the number 10 and Kane as the nine.
No matter whether Tuchel decides to set England up like this at the international competition, what appears positive is his preparedness to omit established stars in the pursuit of tactical equilibrium.