England's star trio are unable to operate simultaneously - what's the verdict?
After achieving six consecutive triumphs in six games, zero goals allowed and tournament placement assured before the final rounds, national team coach Thomas Tuchel might claim he has made the right selection choices.
Nevertheless, in the build-up to Thursday's domestic match against Serbia, he sparked a debate when he claimed that three of the country's best players - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - struggle to perform in the same team.
"Currently, if we maintain the formation, they won't fit together.
"They can but not within this system, not for the balance that we developed and not for the structure that also includes 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 suggest that the Barcelona loanee and the Gunners' star are his preferred options on the left and right flank respectively.
The question remains whether Bellingham, Foden and Kane operate simultaneously?
Gareth Southgate evidently thought it possible.
Bellingham, Foden and Kane were selected for each England's seven fixtures at the European Championship in Germany, where the national squad fell to the Spanish in the final.
In the 16 games the stars have performed together, England have triumphed 10 times, shared points three times and been defeated three times, netting 36 goals and letting in 14 strikes.
Analysis: Foden's versatility gives Tuchel options
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, shooting ability and skill in entering the penalty area when the striker drops deep.
Tuchel has discussed favoring specialist wingers. Saka and Gordon regularly feature on the wings and can hold the ball well, take their full-back on, and appear in scoring positions.
Behind this front four, Tuchel plays with a midfield two consisting of a disciplined defensive presence and a partner with attacking liberty to support offensive play.
What solutions exist for the trio?
Foden and Bellingham would be battling with other creative midfielders for the creative hub, with Kane expected to lead up front.
Foden could operate as the central striker, which theoretically could permit both Bellingham and Foden to feature instead of Kane.
There is a potential solution all three could coexist effectively and Tuchel alluded to it this week.
"For Man City, he functions as a central or attacking midfielder, so maybe during the next months we view him as a box-to-box player," he said.
Foden has been deployed in a versatile central position this season.
That has enabled him to operate from deeper areas and could categorize him as the central midfielder, next to a more defensive number six.
This would then enable Bellingham to operate as the creative force and Kane as the striker.
No matter whether Tuchel chooses to configure the team like this at the global tournament, what bodes well is his readiness to exclude star names in the interest of team harmony.
