Three Lions' top talents struggle to play together - does the manager have a point?
After achieving six consecutive triumphs out of six, zero goals allowed and tournament placement assured before the final rounds, national team coach Thomas Tuchel might claim he has chosen wisely throughout qualification.
Yet, in the preparation for 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 identical lineup.
"Currently, if we keep the structure, they won't fit together.
"They can but not with current tactics, not preserving harmony that we established and not in this formation that comes also with wingers who are like specialists in their positions. We currently utilize with a six, eight, a 10 and a nine."
From automatic picks to contested places
The Manchester City and Real Madrid stars have been used in wide positions for England in the past, but Tuchel's selections suggest that Marcus Rashford and Arsenal's winger are his preferred options on the wide areas respectively.
The question remains whether Bellingham, Foden and Kane operate simultaneously?
The previous England manager apparently believed they could.
Bellingham, Foden and Kane featured in every England's seven matches at the European Championship in Germany, where Southgate's side were defeated by Spain in the final.
In the 16 fixtures the three have featured together, England have won 10, tied three matches and been defeated three times, netting 36 goals and letting in 14 strikes.
Tactical insight: Foden's flexibility provides alternatives
Tuchel has employed a four-two-three-one setup that changes shape when England attack.
The Aston Villa player has been the key creative force because of his excellent dribbling, strike quality and ability to attack the box when the number nine withdraws.
Tuchel has discussed favoring specialist wingers. The Arsenal and Newcastle stars regularly feature on the wings and can retain the ball skillfully, engage in one-on-one situations, and appear in scoring positions.
In midfield behind the attackers, Tuchel utilizes two central midfielders consisting of a holding midfielder and a partner with attacking liberty to support offensive play.
What solutions exist for the trio?
Foden and Bellingham would be battling with Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers and Eberechi Eze for the creative hub, with Kane expected to lead up front.
Foden could play as the central striker, which in theory could permit both Bellingham and Foden to operate without the captain.
There is a potential solution all three could feature together 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 regard 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 position him as the central midfielder, alongside a holding midfielder.
This would then enable Bellingham to operate as the creative force and Kane as the striker.
Irrespective of whether Tuchel decides to set England up like this at the international competition, what seems encouraging is his willingness to leave big players out in the name of balance.
