Kane, Bellingham and Foden are unable to operate simultaneously - is Tuchel right?
Having secured six victories out of six, zero goals allowed and World Cup qualification confirmed with matches remaining, national team coach Thomas Tuchel might claim he has chosen wisely throughout qualification.
Nevertheless, in the build-up to Thursday's domestic match against Serbia, he raised questions when he claimed that three of the England's elite footballers - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - are unable to feature in the equivalent formation.
"Currently, if we maintain the formation, they won't fit together.
"They might but not in the structure, not preserving harmony that we established and not within the framework that comes also with wingers who are essentially experts in their positions. We play at the moment with specific numbered positions."
From automatic picks to contested places
England's creative talents 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 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 were selected for each England's seven matches at Euro 2024 in Germany, where Southgate's side fell to the Spanish in the final.
In the 16 games the trio have played simultaneously, England have won 10, drawn three and lost three, registering 36 scores and allowing 14 goals.
Strategic view: Versatile Foden offers solutions
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 impressive ball progression, strike quality and ability to attack the box when the striker drops deep.
Tuchel has mentioned preferring specialist wingers. Saka and Gordon play out wide weekly and can maintain possession effectively, take their full-back on, and appear in scoring positions.
Behind this front four, Tuchel employs a double pivot consisting of a holding midfielder and one with more license to support offensive play.
Potential configurations for England's stars
Foden and Bellingham would be competing with Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers and Eberechi Eze for the number 10 role, with Kane likely to start up front.
Foden could play as the main forward, which theoretically could allow both Bellingham and Foden to feature instead of Kane.
There is one way all three could coexist effectively and Tuchel suggested it this week.
"At Manchester City, he functions as a central or attacking midfielder, 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 permitted him to contribute from midfield and could position him as the number eight, paired with a defensive anchor.
This would then permit Bellingham to feature as the number 10 and Kane as the center forward.
Irrespective of whether Tuchel chooses to configure the team like this at the international competition, what seems encouraging is his willingness to leave big players out in the pursuit of tactical equilibrium.
