Three Lions' top talents can't operate simultaneously - is Tuchel right?
With six wins out of six, an unbreached defense and tournament placement confirmed with matches remaining, Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel can argue he has got all of his big qualifying decisions correct.
Yet, in the build-up to Thursday's home game against Serbia, he initiated discussion when he said that three of the England's elite footballers - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - struggle to perform in the equivalent formation.
"At the moment, if we maintain the formation, they won't fit together.
"It's possible but not in the structure, not maintaining equilibrium that we developed and not within the framework that incorporates wingers who are essentially experts in their positions. We presently employ with a six, eight, a 10 and a nine."
From guaranteed positions to competitive roles
Foden and Bellingham have been deployed on the flanks for England in the past, but his team selections imply that Marcus Rashford and the Gunners' star are his preferred options on the left and right flank respectively.
So can 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 stars have performed together, England have won 10, drawn three and been defeated three times, netting 36 goals and letting in 14 strikes.
Strategic view: Versatile Foden offers solutions
Tuchel has played a 4-2-3-1 system that transforms formation when England attack.
The young midfielder has been the primary attacking midfielder because of his excellent dribbling, strike quality and ability to attack the box when the number nine withdraws.
Tuchel has discussed favoring specialist wingers. Saka and Gordon consistently operate in wide areas and can hold the ball well, take their full-back on, and appear in scoring positions.
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.
Potential configurations for England's stars
Foden and Bellingham would be competing with attacking alternatives for the creative hub, with Kane likely to start up front.
Foden could play as the number nine, which in theory could allow both Bellingham and Foden to play at Kane's expense.
There is a potential solution all three could coexist effectively and Tuchel suggested it this week.
"With his club, he operates similarly to a number eight or 10, so perhaps in coming months we consider him as a number eight," he said.
Foden has been used in a more all-purpose midfield role this season.
That has enabled him to operate from deeper areas and could make him an option as the central midfielder, next to a more defensive number six.
This would then enable Bellingham to operate as the creative force and Kane as the center forward.
Irrespective of whether Tuchel chooses to configure the team like this at the World Cup, what seems encouraging is his willingness to leave big players out in the interest of team harmony.
