Three Lions' top talents are unable to operate simultaneously - is Tuchel right?
After achieving six consecutive triumphs out of six, an unbreached defense and World Cup qualification assured before the final rounds, England manager Thomas Tuchel might claim he has made the right selection choices.
Yet, in the lead-up to Thursday's domestic match 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 equivalent formation.
"At the moment, if we maintain the formation, they won't fit together.
"It's possible but not with current tactics, not preserving harmony that we developed and not for the structure that comes also with wingers who are essentially experts in their positions. We presently employ with defensive, central, attacking midfielders and striker."
From automatic picks to contested places
Foden and Bellingham have been deployed on the flanks for England in the past, but his team selections indicate that Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka are his first choices on the wide areas respectively.
The question remains whether 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 last summer's tournament in Germany, where Southgate's side lost to Spain in the final.
In the 16 fixtures the three have featured together, England have triumphed 10 times, drawn three and lost three, netting 36 goals and allowing 14 goals.
Analysis: Foden's versatility gives Tuchel options
Tuchel has played a 4-2-3-1 system that changes shape when England attack.
Morgan Rogers has been the key creative force because of his strong ball-carrying, shooting ability and skill in entering the penalty area when the number nine withdraws.
Tuchel has spoken about preferring dedicated wide players. The Arsenal and Newcastle stars consistently operate in wide areas and can retain the ball skillfully, take their full-back on, and appear in scoring positions.
Behind this front four, Tuchel employs a double pivot consisting of a disciplined defensive presence and another with greater freedom to contribute to the attack.
What solutions exist for the trio?
Foden and Bellingham would be vying against other creative midfielders for the number 10 role, with Kane likely to start up front.
Foden could feature as the central striker, which potentially could permit both Bellingham and Foden to operate without the captain.
There is one way all three could coexist effectively and Tuchel hinted at it this week.
"For Man City, he plays almost like a number eight or 10, so perhaps in coming months we consider him as a box-to-box player," he said.
Foden has been utilized as a flexible midfielder this season.
That has permitted him to contribute from midfield and could make him an option as the number eight, next to a more defensive number six.
This would then permit Bellingham to feature as the number 10 and Kane as the nine.
Regardless of if Tuchel decides to set England up like this at the World Cup, what seems encouraging is his preparedness to omit established stars in the pursuit of tactical equilibrium.
