Three Lions' top talents struggle to operate simultaneously - does the manager have a point?
Having secured six victories out of six, zero goals allowed and tournament placement assured before the final rounds, national team coach Thomas Tuchel can argue he has made the right selection choices.
Nevertheless, in the lead-up to Thursday's domestic match against Serbia, he sparked a debate when he said that three of the England's elite footballers - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - cannot play in the equivalent formation.
"At the moment, if we stick with the system, they won't fit together.
"They can but not within this system, not maintaining equilibrium that we developed and not in this formation that comes also with wingers who are highly specialized in their positions. We currently utilize with specific numbered positions."
From certain starters to fighting for spots
The Manchester City and Real Madrid stars have been deployed on the flanks for England in the past, but Tuchel's selections indicate that Marcus Rashford and Arsenal's winger are his preferred options on the wide areas respectively.
The question remains whether Bellingham, Foden and Kane operate simultaneously?
Gareth Southgate certainly thought so.
Bellingham, Foden and Kane started all of England's seven matches at Euro 2024 in Germany, where the England team were defeated by Spain in the final.
In the 16 games the three have featured simultaneously, England have triumphed 10 times, shared points three times and suffered three losses, registering 36 scores and letting in 14 strikes.
Strategic view: Versatile Foden offers solutions
Tuchel has played a 4-2-3-1 system that changes shape when England attack.
The Aston Villa player has been the key creative force because of his strong ball-carrying, ball-striking and ability to attack the box when the striker drops deep.
Tuchel has spoken about preferring specialist wingers. The wide attackers consistently operate in wide areas and can retain the ball skillfully, challenge defenders, and enter the area to finish.
Supporting the attacking quartet, Tuchel employs a double pivot consisting of one defensively strict player and one with more license to contribute to the attack.
Potential configurations for England's stars
Foden and Bellingham would be battling with other creative midfielders for the number 10 role, with Kane expected to lead up front.
Foden could operate as the number nine, which theoretically could allow both Bellingham and Foden to feature instead of Kane.
There is an alternative approach all three could play in this system and Tuchel hinted at it this week.
"For Man City, he operates similarly to a box-to-box or creative role, so potentially in future we regard him as a central midfielder," he said.
Foden has been used in a more all-purpose midfield role this season.
That has permitted him to contribute from midfield 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 center forward.
Irrespective of whether Tuchel decides to set England up like this at the international competition, what bodes well is his readiness to exclude star names in the pursuit of tactical equilibrium.
