Kane, Bellingham and Foden can't fit in the same lineup - does the manager have a point?
With six wins in six games, zero goals allowed and tournament placement assured before the final rounds, Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel might claim he has got all of his big qualifying decisions correct.
Nevertheless, in the lead-up to Thursday's domestic match against Serbia, he sparked a debate when he said that three of the country's best players - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - cannot play in the equivalent formation.
"At the moment, if we maintain the formation, they won't fit together.
"It's possible but not with current tactics, not preserving harmony that we developed and not for the structure that incorporates wingers who are like specialists in their positions. We presently employ with defensive, central, attacking midfielders and striker."
From automatic picks to contested places
England's creative talents have been utilized out wide for England in the past, but Tuchel's selections indicate that the Manchester United forward and Arsenal's winger are his primary selections on the left and right flank respectively.
The question remains whether Bellingham, Foden and Kane operate simultaneously?
Former Three Lions boss evidently thought it possible.
Bellingham, Foden and Kane were selected for each England's seven games at Euro 2024 in Germany, where the national squad fell to the Spanish in the final.
In the 16 games the trio have played together, England have triumphed 10 times, shared points three times and suffered three losses, netting 36 goals and conceding 14.
Strategic view: Versatile Foden offers solutions
Tuchel has played a 4-2-3-1 system that alters structure when England attack.
The young midfielder has been the primary attacking midfielder because of his excellent dribbling, strike quality and capacity to penetrate the area when the striker drops deep.
Tuchel has discussed favoring dedicated wide players. The wide attackers play out wide weekly and can maintain possession effectively, take their full-back on, and arrive in the box to score.
Behind this front four, Tuchel employs a double pivot consisting of one defensively strict player and a partner with attacking liberty to contribute to the attack.
What solutions exist for the trio?
Foden and Bellingham would be vying against Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers and Eberechi Eze for the creative hub, with Kane expected to lead up front.
Foden could operate as the main forward, which in theory could enable both Bellingham and Foden to play at Kane's expense.
There is an alternative approach all three could feature together and Tuchel hinted at it this week.
"For Man City, he functions as 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 number eight, paired with a defensive anchor.
This would then permit Bellingham to feature as the attacking midfielder and Kane as the center forward.
Irrespective of whether Tuchel decides to set England up like this at the World Cup, what bodes well is his preparedness to omit established stars in the name of balance.
