England's star trio can't operate simultaneously - is Tuchel right?
With six wins out of six, no goals conceded and a World Cup spot confirmed with matches remaining, Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel could suggest he has got all of his big qualifying decisions correct.
Nevertheless, in the preparation for Thursday's home game against Serbia, he sparked a debate when he said that three of the nation's top talents - 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 might but not in the structure, not maintaining equilibrium that we established and not for the structure that incorporates wingers who are essentially experts in their positions. We play at the moment with a six, eight, a 10 and a nine."
From guaranteed positions to competitive roles
Foden and Bellingham have been utilized out wide for England in the past, but his team selections suggest that the Barcelona loanee and Arsenal's winger are his first choices on the wide areas respectively.
The question remains whether Bellingham, Foden and Kane play together?
The previous England manager evidently thought it possible.
Bellingham, Foden and Kane started all of England's seven matches at the European Championship in Germany, where the England team lost to Spain in the final.
In the 16 fixtures the trio have played simultaneously, England have secured 10 victories, drawn three and been defeated three times, registering 36 scores and conceding 14.
Strategic view: Versatile Foden offers solutions
Tuchel has utilized a 4-2-3-1 formation that transforms formation when England attack.
The young midfielder has been the key creative force because of his excellent dribbling, ball-striking and skill in entering the penalty area when the forward retreats.
Tuchel has spoken about preferring dedicated wide players. The wide attackers consistently operate in wide areas and can retain the ball skillfully, take their full-back on, and enter the area to finish.
Behind this front four, Tuchel employs a double pivot consisting of one defensively strict player and another with greater freedom to contribute to the attack.
Potential configurations for England's stars
Foden and Bellingham would be vying against Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers and Eberechi Eze for the number 10 role, with Kane expected to lead up front.
Foden could operate as the central striker, which theoretically could permit both Bellingham and Foden to play at Kane's expense.
There is an alternative approach all three could play in this system and Tuchel suggested it this week.
"For Man City, he functions as 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 deployed in a versatile central position this season.
That has allowed him to take responsibility deeper and could categorize him as the number eight, paired with a defensive anchor.
This would then enable Bellingham to operate 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 preparedness to omit established stars in the pursuit of tactical equilibrium.
