Three Lions' top talents struggle to operate simultaneously - does the manager have a point?
Having secured six victories out of six, no goals conceded and World Cup qualification assured before the final rounds, England manager Thomas Tuchel could suggest he has got all of his big qualifying decisions correct.
Yet, in the lead-up to Thursday's Wembley encounter against Serbia, he sparked a debate when he stated that three of the England's elite footballers - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - struggle to perform in the equivalent formation.
"Currently, if we stick with the system, they are unable to feature.
"They might but not in the structure, not maintaining equilibrium that we created and not for the structure that also includes wingers who are like specialists in their positions. We play at the moment with a six, eight, a 10 and a nine."
From guaranteed positions to competitive roles
The Manchester City and Real Madrid stars have been used in wide positions for England in the past, but his team selections imply that the Barcelona loanee and the Gunners' star are his primary selections on the left and right flank respectively.
The question remains whether Bellingham, Foden and Kane operate simultaneously?
Gareth Southgate certainly thought so.
Bellingham, Foden and Kane started all of England's seven games at Euro 2024 in Germany, where the England team lost to Spain in the final.
In the 16 games the trio have played together, England have triumphed 10 times, drawn three and been defeated three times, registering 36 scores and allowing 14 goals.
Tactical insight: Foden's flexibility provides alternatives
Tuchel has played a 4-2-3-1 system that transforms formation when England attack.
Morgan Rogers has been the key creative force because of his strong ball-carrying, shooting ability and ability to attack the box when the striker drops deep.
Tuchel has spoken about preferring specialist wingers. The wide attackers regularly feature on the wings and can hold the ball well, challenge defenders, and appear in scoring positions.
Supporting the attacking quartet, Tuchel employs a double pivot consisting of a holding midfielder and one with more license to join the forward movement.
Potential configurations for England's stars
Foden and Bellingham would be vying against attacking alternatives for the attacking midfield position, with Kane expected to lead up front.
Foden could feature as the main forward, which in theory could enable both Bellingham and Foden to operate without the captain.
There is one way all three could feature together and Tuchel suggested it this week.
"For Man City, he operates similarly to a box-to-box or creative role, so maybe during the next months we regard 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 position him as the advanced playmaker, alongside a holding midfielder.
This would then allow Bellingham to play as the attacking midfielder and Kane as the striker.
No matter whether Tuchel decides to set England up like this at the global tournament, what bodes well is his readiness to exclude star names in the pursuit of tactical equilibrium.
