England's star trio can't fit in the same lineup - what's the verdict?
With six wins in six games, an unbreached defense and a World Cup spot assured before the final rounds, national team coach Thomas Tuchel can argue he has chosen wisely throughout qualification.
Nevertheless, in the lead-up to Thursday's Wembley encounter against Serbia, he initiated discussion when he said that three of the nation's top talents - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - struggle to perform in the same team.
"Presently, if we maintain the formation, they won't fit together.
"They can but not within this system, not maintaining equilibrium that we developed and not in this formation that incorporates wingers who are essentially experts in their positions. We currently utilize with defensive, central, attacking midfielders and striker."
From certain starters to fighting for spots
The Manchester City and Real Madrid stars have been used in wide positions for England in the past, but the manager's choices suggest that the Manchester United forward and Bukayo Saka are his preferred options on the wide areas respectively.
The question remains whether Bellingham, Foden and Kane coexist in the lineup?
The previous England manager apparently believed they could.
Bellingham, Foden and Kane featured in every England's seven fixtures at the European Championship in Germany, where the national squad lost to Spain in the final.
In the 16 matches the trio have played alongside each other, England have secured 10 victories, shared points three times and lost three, netting 36 goals and letting in 14 strikes.
Analysis: Foden's versatility gives Tuchel options
Tuchel has utilized a 4-2-3-1 formation that transforms formation when England attack.
Morgan Rogers has been the primary attacking midfielder because of his excellent dribbling, strike quality and ability to attack the box when the forward retreats.
Tuchel has spoken about preferring dedicated wide players. The wide attackers regularly feature on the wings and can hold the ball well, engage in one-on-one situations, and arrive in the box to score.
In midfield behind the attackers, Tuchel employs a double pivot consisting of a holding midfielder and one with more license to contribute to the attack.
So how could Tuchel use these three players?
Foden and Bellingham would be competing 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 in theory could allow both Bellingham and Foden to operate without the captain.
There is one way all three could coexist effectively and Tuchel suggested it this week.
"At Manchester City, he functions as a box-to-box or creative role, so perhaps in coming months we view him as a number eight," he said.
Foden has been used in a more all-purpose midfield role this season.
That has permitted him to contribute from midfield and could categorize him as the advanced playmaker, paired with a defensive anchor.
This would then enable Bellingham to operate as the attacking midfielder and Kane as the striker.
Irrespective of 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 interest of team harmony.
