Three Lions' top talents struggle to play together - 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, Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel might claim he has chosen wisely throughout qualification.
Nevertheless, in the lead-up to Thursday's Wembley encounter against Serbia, he raised questions when he said that three of the country's best players - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - struggle to perform in the identical lineup.
"At the moment, if we maintain the formation, they are unable to feature.
"They might but not in the structure, not maintaining equilibrium that we created and not for the structure that incorporates wingers who are like specialists in their positions. We presently employ 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 Arsenal's winger are his preferred options on the wide areas respectively.
The question remains whether Bellingham, Foden and Kane play together?
Gareth Southgate certainly thought so.
Bellingham, Foden and Kane started all of England's seven fixtures at last summer's tournament in Germany, where the national squad fell to the Spanish in the final.
In the 16 matches the stars have performed alongside each other, England have triumphed 10 times, drawn three and suffered three losses, registering 36 scores and allowing 14 goals.
Strategic view: Versatile Foden offers solutions
Tuchel has employed a four-two-three-one setup that alters structure when England attack.
The Aston Villa player has been the main number 10 because of his strong ball-carrying, ball-striking and ability to attack the box when the number nine withdraws.
Tuchel has discussed favoring dedicated wide players. Saka and Gordon consistently operate in wide areas and can hold the ball well, engage in one-on-one situations, and arrive in the box to score.
Supporting the attacking quartet, Tuchel utilizes two central midfielders 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 vying against attacking alternatives for the number 10 role, with Kane likely to start up front.
Foden could play as the number nine, which potentially could enable both Bellingham and Foden to play at Kane's expense.
There is one way all three could feature together and Tuchel alluded to it this week.
"For Man City, he operates similarly to a central or attacking midfielder, 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 central midfielder, next to a more defensive number six.
This would then permit Bellingham to feature as the number 10 and Kane as the nine.
Irrespective of whether Tuchel chooses to configure the team like this at the international competition, what bodes well is his willingness to leave big players out in the name of balance.
