England's star trio are unable to play together - is Tuchel right?
Having secured six victories from six matches, an unbreached defense and a World Cup spot assured before the final rounds, national team coach Thomas Tuchel could suggest he has chosen wisely throughout qualification.
However, in the preparation for Thursday's home game against Serbia, he raised questions when he stated that three of the nation's top talents - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - are unable to feature in the identical lineup.
"Currently, if we maintain the formation, they cannot play.
"They can but not within this system, 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 specific numbered positions."
From guaranteed positions to competitive roles
England's creative talents have been utilized out wide for England in the past, but his team selections suggest that the Barcelona loanee and Bukayo Saka are his preferred options on the wing positions respectively.
But can Bellingham, Foden and Kane operate simultaneously?
The previous England manager evidently thought it possible.
Bellingham, Foden and Kane featured in every England's seven games at Euro 2024 in Germany, where the England team fell to the Spanish in the final.
In the 16 matches the three have featured alongside each other, England have triumphed 10 times, tied three matches and suffered three losses, netting 36 goals and allowing 14 goals.
Tactical insight: Foden's flexibility provides alternatives
Tuchel has played a 4-2-3-1 system that changes shape when England attack.
The Aston Villa player has been the primary attacking midfielder because of his impressive ball progression, strike quality and capacity to penetrate the area when the number nine withdraws.
Tuchel has mentioned preferring dedicated wide players. The Arsenal and Newcastle stars play out wide weekly and can maintain possession effectively, take their full-back on, and enter the area to finish.
In midfield behind the attackers, 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 battling with other creative midfielders for the creative hub, with Kane probably featuring up front.
Foden could operate as the central striker, which in theory could permit both Bellingham and Foden to play at Kane's expense.
There is a potential solution all three could play in this system and Tuchel suggested it this week.
"For Man City, he operates similarly to a box-to-box or creative role, so perhaps in coming months we regard 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 position him as the advanced playmaker, alongside a holding midfielder.
This would then allow Bellingham to play as the number 10 and Kane as the center forward.
No matter whether Tuchel decides to set England up like this at the global tournament, what bodes well is his willingness to leave big players out in the pursuit of tactical equilibrium.