Three Lions' top talents are unable to operate simultaneously - is Tuchel right?
Having secured six victories in six games, an unbreached defense and World Cup qualification assured before the final rounds, England manager Thomas Tuchel can argue he has got all of his big qualifying decisions correct.
Yet, in the build-up to Thursday's domestic match against Serbia, he raised questions 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.
"Presently, if we keep the structure, they are unable to feature.
"They can but not within this system, not for the balance that we established and not in this formation that comes also with wingers who are highly specialized in their positions. We currently utilize with a six, eight, a 10 and a nine."
From certain starters to fighting for spots
Foden and Bellingham have been deployed on the flanks for England in the past, but Tuchel's selections imply that the Manchester United forward and Bukayo Saka are his preferred options on the left and right flank respectively.
So can Bellingham, Foden and Kane play together?
The previous England manager evidently thought it possible.
Bellingham, Foden and Kane featured in every England's seven matches at the European Championship in Germany, where Southgate's side fell to the Spanish in the final.
In the 16 fixtures the three have featured alongside each other, England have triumphed 10 times, drawn three and been defeated three times, registering 36 scores and conceding 14.
Tactical insight: Foden's flexibility provides alternatives
Tuchel has employed a four-two-three-one setup that changes shape when England attack.
Morgan Rogers has been the key creative force because of his excellent dribbling, strike quality and capacity to penetrate the area when the forward retreats.
Tuchel has spoken about preferring dedicated wide players. Saka and Gordon regularly feature on the wings and can hold the ball well, challenge defenders, and arrive in the box to score.
In midfield behind the attackers, Tuchel utilizes two central midfielders 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 vying against other creative midfielders for the attacking midfield position, with Kane expected to lead up front.
Foden could play as the central striker, which potentially could allow both Bellingham and Foden to play at Kane's expense.
There is an alternative approach all three could coexist effectively and Tuchel alluded to it this week.
"With his club, he functions as a central or attacking midfielder, so maybe during the next months we regard 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, paired with a defensive anchor.
This would then enable Bellingham to operate as the creative force and Kane as the striker.
Regardless of if Tuchel chooses to configure the team like this at the international competition, what bodes well is his preparedness to omit established stars in the pursuit of tactical equilibrium.
