Three Lions' top talents can't play together - is Tuchel right?
After achieving six consecutive triumphs out of six, an unbreached defense and a World Cup spot secured with two group games to spare, national team coach Thomas Tuchel could suggest he has chosen wisely throughout qualification.
Yet, in the preparation for Thursday's domestic match against Serbia, he raised questions when he claimed that three of the nation's top talents - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - struggle to perform in the equivalent formation.
"At the moment, if we keep the structure, they cannot play.
"They can but not in the structure, not preserving harmony that we developed and not in this formation that comes also with wingers who are essentially experts in their positions. We presently employ with defensive, central, attacking midfielders and striker."
From certain starters to fighting for spots
The Manchester City and Real Madrid stars have been utilized out wide for England in the past, but the manager's choices imply that the Barcelona loanee and Arsenal's winger are his primary selections on the left and right flank respectively.
The question remains whether Bellingham, Foden and Kane operate simultaneously?
Former Three Lions boss apparently believed they could.
Bellingham, Foden and Kane started all of England's seven matches at Euro 2024 in Germany, where the England team lost to Spain in the final.
In the 16 fixtures the stars have performed alongside each other, England have triumphed 10 times, shared points three times and been defeated three times, registering 36 scores and allowing 14 goals.
Analysis: Foden's versatility gives Tuchel options
Tuchel has utilized a 4-2-3-1 formation that alters structure when England attack.
The Aston Villa player has been the main number 10 because of his strong ball-carrying, ball-striking and capacity to penetrate the area when the forward retreats.
Tuchel has mentioned preferring dedicated wide players. 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.
Behind this front four, Tuchel employs a double pivot consisting of one defensively strict player and a partner with attacking liberty to join the forward movement.
What solutions exist for the trio?
Foden and Bellingham would be competing with attacking alternatives for the number 10 role, with Kane likely to start up front.
Foden could feature as the number nine, which theoretically could enable both Bellingham and Foden to operate without the captain.
There is a potential solution all three could feature together and Tuchel hinted at it this week.
"With his club, he operates similarly to a box-to-box or creative role, so perhaps in coming months we view him as a number eight," he said.
Foden has been deployed in a versatile central position this season.
That has permitted him to contribute from midfield and could position him as the central midfielder, next to a more defensive number six.
This would then allow Bellingham to play as the number 10 and Kane as the striker.
Regardless of if Tuchel chooses to configure the team like this at the World Cup, what seems encouraging is his preparedness to omit established stars in the pursuit of tactical equilibrium.