Kane, Bellingham and Foden are unable to play together - does the manager have a point?
After achieving six consecutive triumphs out of six, zero goals allowed and World Cup qualification confirmed with matches remaining, national team coach Thomas Tuchel could suggest he has made the right selection choices.
Yet, in the preparation for Thursday's domestic match against Serbia, he raised questions when he stated that three of the nation's top talents - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - struggle to perform in the identical lineup.
"Currently, if we maintain the formation, they cannot play.
"They can but not in the structure, not maintaining equilibrium that we created and not within the framework that incorporates wingers who are highly specialized in their positions. We presently employ with a six, eight, a 10 and a nine."
From automatic picks to contested places
Foden and Bellingham have been utilized out wide for England in the past, but Tuchel's selections indicate that Marcus Rashford and Arsenal's winger are his primary selections on the wide areas respectively.
The question remains whether Bellingham, Foden and Kane play together?
Former Three Lions boss evidently thought it possible.
Bellingham, Foden and Kane started all of England's seven fixtures at last summer's tournament in Germany, where the England team fell to the Spanish in the final.
In the 16 matches the trio have played alongside each other, England have triumphed 10 times, tied three matches and suffered three losses, registering 36 scores and letting in 14 strikes.
Analysis: Foden's versatility gives Tuchel options
Tuchel has employed a four-two-three-one setup that alters structure when England attack.
Morgan Rogers has been the main number 10 because of his strong ball-carrying, shooting ability and capacity to penetrate the area when the forward retreats.
Tuchel has mentioned preferring natural flank operators. The Arsenal and Newcastle stars play out wide weekly and can maintain possession effectively, take their full-back on, and enter the area to finish.
Supporting the attacking quartet, Tuchel plays with a midfield two consisting of a holding midfielder and a partner with attacking liberty to join the forward movement.
Potential configurations for England's stars
Foden and Bellingham would be vying against Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers and Eberechi Eze for the creative hub, with Kane probably featuring up front.
Foden could feature as the main forward, which theoretically could allow both Bellingham and Foden to operate without the captain.
There is one way all three could play in this system and Tuchel alluded to it this week.
"With his club, he plays almost like a box-to-box or creative role, so perhaps in coming months we view him as a box-to-box player," he said.
Foden has been utilized as a flexible midfielder this season.
That has allowed him to take responsibility deeper and could categorize him as the number eight, next to a more defensive number six.
This would then enable Bellingham to operate as the creative force and Kane as the striker.
No matter whether Tuchel opts to structure the side like this at the global tournament, what appears positive is his willingness to leave big players out in the interest of team harmony.
