Three Lions' top talents struggle to operate simultaneously - does the manager have a point?
After achieving six consecutive triumphs out of six, an unbreached defense and tournament placement secured with two group games to spare, national team coach Thomas Tuchel might claim he has chosen wisely throughout qualification.
Yet, in the build-up to Thursday's home game against Serbia, he sparked a debate when he said that three of the England's elite footballers - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - cannot play in the same team.
"Presently, if we keep the structure, they are unable to feature.
"They can but not with current tactics, not for the balance that we developed and not in this formation that incorporates 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
Foden and Bellingham have been utilized out wide for England in the past, but the manager's choices indicate that Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka are his first choices on the wing positions respectively.
The question remains whether Bellingham, Foden and Kane operate simultaneously?
Gareth Southgate apparently believed they could.
Bellingham, Foden and Kane were selected for each England's seven fixtures at Euro 2024 in Germany, where the national squad fell to the Spanish in the final.
In the 16 fixtures the stars have performed alongside each other, England have secured 10 victories, tied three matches and suffered three losses, registering 36 scores and allowing 14 goals.
Strategic view: Versatile Foden offers solutions
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 excellent dribbling, strike quality and skill in entering the penalty area when the striker drops deep.
Tuchel has discussed favoring specialist wingers. The Arsenal and Newcastle stars consistently operate in wide areas and can hold the ball well, 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 a partner with attacking liberty to contribute to the attack.
So how could Tuchel use these three players?
Foden and Bellingham would be competing with Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers and Eberechi Eze for the creative hub, with Kane likely to start up front.
Foden could play as the central striker, which theoretically could permit both Bellingham and Foden to play at Kane's expense.
There is one way all three could feature together and Tuchel hinted at it this week.
"At Manchester City, he plays almost like a number eight or 10, 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 allowed him to take responsibility deeper and could make him an option as the advanced playmaker, paired with a defensive anchor.
This would then allow Bellingham to play as the attacking midfielder and Kane as the striker.
No matter whether Tuchel opts to structure the side like this at the international competition, what bodes well is his willingness to leave big players out in the name of balance.
