Three Lions' top talents struggle to operate simultaneously - does the manager have a point?
Having secured six victories from six matches, zero goals allowed and World Cup qualification assured before the final rounds, England manager Thomas Tuchel can argue he has made the right selection choices.
Yet, in the lead-up to Thursday's Wembley encounter against Serbia, he initiated discussion when he stated that three of the country's best players - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - struggle to perform in the identical lineup.
"Currently, if we stick with the system, they won't fit together.
"It's possible but not with current tactics, not preserving harmony that we created and not within the framework 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 guaranteed positions to competitive roles
Foden and Bellingham have been used in wide positions for England in the past, but the manager's choices imply that Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka are his primary selections on the wing positions respectively.
The question remains whether Bellingham, Foden and Kane operate simultaneously?
The previous England manager evidently thought it possible.
Bellingham, Foden and Kane started all of England's seven matches at last summer's tournament in Germany, where the national squad lost to Spain in the final.
In the 16 fixtures the trio have played together, England have triumphed 10 times, shared points three times and been defeated three times, scoring 36 times and letting in 14 strikes.
Strategic view: Versatile Foden offers solutions
Tuchel has utilized a 4-2-3-1 formation that alters structure when England attack.
Morgan Rogers has been the main number 10 because of his excellent dribbling, strike quality and ability to attack the box when the number nine withdraws.
Tuchel has mentioned preferring dedicated wide players. The Arsenal and Newcastle stars consistently operate in wide areas and can maintain possession effectively, take their full-back on, and appear in scoring positions.
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.
So how could Tuchel use these three players?
Foden and Bellingham would be competing with Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers and Eberechi Eze for the number 10 role, with Kane probably featuring up front.
Foden could operate as the number nine, which potentially could enable both Bellingham and Foden to operate without the captain.
There is a potential solution all three could coexist effectively and Tuchel hinted at it this week.
"For Man City, he functions as a box-to-box or creative role, so perhaps in coming months we consider him as a central midfielder," he said.
Foden has been deployed in a versatile central position this season.
That has permitted him to contribute from midfield and could make him an option as the advanced playmaker, alongside a holding midfielder.
This would then permit Bellingham to feature as the number 10 and Kane as the center forward.
Regardless of if Tuchel opts to structure the side like this at the international competition, what appears positive is his willingness to leave big players out in the name of balance.