Three Lions' top talents can't play together - is Tuchel right?
After achieving six consecutive triumphs from six matches, zero goals allowed and tournament placement assured before the final rounds, 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 Wembley encounter against Serbia, he sparked a debate when he claimed that three of the nation's top talents - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - cannot play in the identical lineup.
"At the moment, if we stick with the system, they won't fit together.
"It's possible but not in the structure, not preserving harmony that we established and not in this formation that also includes wingers who are essentially experts in their positions. We currently utilize with defensive, central, attacking midfielders and striker."
From guaranteed positions to competitive roles
England's creative talents have been deployed on the flanks for England in the past, but the manager's choices imply that the Manchester United forward and the Gunners' star are his first choices on the left and right flank respectively.
But can Bellingham, Foden and Kane play together?
Gareth Southgate evidently thought it possible.
Bellingham, Foden and Kane featured in every England's seven games at last summer's tournament in Germany, where Southgate's side fell to the Spanish in the final.
In the 16 matches the stars have performed simultaneously, England have triumphed 10 times, shared points three times and been defeated three times, scoring 36 times and allowing 14 goals.
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, shooting ability and capacity to penetrate the area when the number nine withdraws.
Tuchel has mentioned preferring natural flank operators. The Arsenal and Newcastle stars consistently operate in wide areas and can maintain possession effectively, take their full-back on, and arrive in the box to score.
In midfield behind the attackers, Tuchel plays with a midfield two consisting of a holding midfielder and another with greater freedom to join the forward movement.
What solutions exist for the trio?
Foden and Bellingham would be competing with other creative midfielders for the number 10 role, with Kane likely to start up front.
Foden could play as the central striker, which theoretically could permit both Bellingham and Foden to play at Kane's expense.
There is a potential solution all three could feature together and Tuchel hinted at it this week.
"With his club, he functions as a number eight or 10, so maybe during the next months we consider him as a box-to-box player," 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 advanced playmaker, paired with a defensive anchor.
This would then allow Bellingham to play as the attacking midfielder and Kane as the striker.
No matter whether Tuchel opts to structure the side like this at the international competition, what bodes well is his preparedness to omit established stars in the interest of team harmony.
