England's star trio can't fit in the same lineup - does the manager have a point?
Having secured six victories in six games, no goals conceded and tournament placement assured before the final rounds, England manager Thomas Tuchel might claim he has made the right selection choices.
Nevertheless, in the lead-up to Thursday's Wembley encounter against Serbia, he initiated discussion when he claimed 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 keep the structure, they are unable to feature.
"They might but not within this system, not preserving harmony that we established and not in this formation that also includes wingers who are highly specialized in their positions. We play at the moment with a six, eight, a 10 and a nine."
From automatic picks to contested places
England's creative talents have been used in wide positions for England in the past, but his team selections imply that the Barcelona loanee and Bukayo Saka are his primary selections on the wing positions respectively.
The question remains whether Bellingham, Foden and Kane play together?
The previous England manager certainly thought so.
Bellingham, Foden and Kane featured in every England's seven fixtures at the European Championship in Germany, where the England team fell to the Spanish in the final.
In the 16 fixtures the trio have played together, England have secured 10 victories, drawn three and suffered three losses, netting 36 goals and allowing 14 goals.
Tactical insight: Foden's flexibility provides alternatives
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 impressive ball progression, shooting ability and capacity to penetrate the area when the striker drops deep.
Tuchel has mentioned preferring specialist wingers. The wide attackers consistently operate in wide areas and can hold the ball well, challenge defenders, and enter the area to finish.
Supporting the attacking quartet, Tuchel employs a double pivot consisting of a disciplined defensive presence and a partner with attacking liberty to contribute to the attack.
What solutions exist for the trio?
Foden and Bellingham would be battling with Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers and Eberechi Eze for the number 10 role, with Kane likely to start up front.
Foden could play as the number nine, which potentially could allow both Bellingham and Foden to feature instead of Kane.
There is a potential solution all three could coexist effectively and Tuchel suggested it this week.
"For Man City, he operates similarly to a box-to-box or creative role, so potentially in future we consider 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 advanced playmaker, alongside a holding midfielder.
This would then permit Bellingham to feature as the attacking midfielder and Kane as the striker.
No matter whether Tuchel decides to set England up like this at the World Cup, what appears positive is his preparedness to omit established stars in the interest of team harmony.
