England's star trio can't play together - does the manager have a point?
Having secured six victories from six matches, zero goals allowed and a World Cup spot assured before the final rounds, national team coach Thomas Tuchel could suggest he has chosen wisely throughout qualification.
Nevertheless, in the build-up to Thursday's home game against Serbia, he raised questions when he stated that three of the country's best players - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - are unable to feature in the equivalent formation.
"At the moment, if we keep the structure, they are unable to feature.
"It's possible but not with current tactics, not for the balance that we created and not within the framework that incorporates wingers who are highly specialized in their positions. We play at the moment with defensive, central, attacking midfielders and striker."
From certain starters to fighting for spots
Foden and Bellingham have been used in wide positions for England in the past, but Tuchel's selections indicate that the Manchester United forward and Bukayo Saka are his primary selections on the left and right flank respectively.
The question remains whether Bellingham, Foden and Kane operate simultaneously?
The previous England manager apparently believed they could.
Bellingham, Foden and Kane were selected for each England's seven games at the European Championship in Germany, where the England team were defeated by Spain in the final.
In the 16 games the stars have performed alongside each other, England have triumphed 10 times, drawn three and suffered three losses, registering 36 scores and conceding 14.
Analysis: Foden's versatility gives Tuchel options
Tuchel has played a 4-2-3-1 system that transforms formation when England attack.
Morgan Rogers has been the key creative force because of his strong ball-carrying, ball-striking and skill in entering the penalty area when the forward retreats.
Tuchel has spoken about preferring dedicated wide players. The Arsenal and Newcastle stars consistently operate in wide areas and can retain the ball skillfully, take their full-back on, and arrive in the box to score.
Supporting the attacking quartet, Tuchel utilizes two central midfielders consisting of a holding midfielder and another with greater freedom to join the forward movement.
So how could Tuchel use these three players?
Foden and Bellingham would be competing with other creative midfielders for the number 10 role, with Kane probably featuring up front.
Foden could operate as the number nine, which potentially could enable both Bellingham and Foden to feature instead of Kane.
There is one way all three could feature together and Tuchel hinted at it this week.
"For Man City, he functions as a number eight or 10, so perhaps in coming 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 position him as the central midfielder, alongside a holding midfielder.
This would then permit Bellingham to feature as the creative force and Kane as the striker.
Irrespective of whether Tuchel decides to set England up like this at the World Cup, what appears positive is his willingness to leave big players out in the pursuit of tactical equilibrium.
