England's star trio are unable to play together - does the manager have a point?
After achieving six consecutive triumphs from six matches, an unbreached defense and a World Cup spot assured before the final rounds, Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel could suggest he has chosen wisely throughout qualification.
Yet, in the build-up to Thursday's Wembley encounter against Serbia, he initiated discussion when he stated that three of the nation's top talents - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - struggle to perform in the same team.
"Presently, if we stick with the system, they cannot play.
"They might but not in the structure, not maintaining equilibrium that we established and not for the structure that also includes wingers who are like specialists in their positions. We currently utilize with a six, eight, a 10 and a nine."
From guaranteed positions to competitive roles
The Manchester City and Real Madrid stars have been utilized out wide for England in the past, but the manager's choices imply that Marcus Rashford and Arsenal's winger are his primary selections on the wing positions respectively.
The question remains whether Bellingham, Foden and Kane operate simultaneously?
Gareth Southgate evidently thought it possible.
Bellingham, Foden and Kane featured in every England's seven fixtures at Euro 2024 in Germany, where Southgate's side fell to the Spanish in the final.
In the 16 games the trio have played alongside each other, England have won 10, tied three matches and lost three, registering 36 scores and letting in 14 strikes.
Analysis: Foden's versatility gives Tuchel options
Tuchel has played a 4-2-3-1 system that changes shape when England attack.
The Aston Villa player has been the main number 10 because of his impressive ball progression, shooting ability and ability to attack the box when the number nine withdraws.
Tuchel has discussed favoring specialist wingers. The Arsenal and Newcastle stars play out wide weekly and can retain the ball skillfully, engage in one-on-one situations, and appear in scoring positions.
In midfield behind the attackers, Tuchel plays with a midfield two 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 competing with other creative midfielders for the creative hub, with Kane likely to start up front.
Foden could feature as the number nine, which potentially could enable both Bellingham and Foden to feature instead of Kane.
There is a potential solution all three could coexist effectively and Tuchel suggested it this week.
"For Man City, he functions as a central or attacking midfielder, so perhaps in coming months we regard him as a box-to-box player," he said.
Foden has been deployed in a versatile central position this season.
That has allowed him to take responsibility deeper and could position him as the number eight, next to a more defensive number six.
This would then permit Bellingham to feature as the attacking midfielder and Kane as the striker.
Regardless of if Tuchel opts to structure the side like this at the international competition, what seems encouraging is his preparedness to omit established stars in the pursuit of tactical equilibrium.