England's star trio can't fit in the same lineup - is Tuchel right?
With six wins from six matches, no goals conceded and World Cup qualification assured before the final rounds, Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel might claim he has got all of his big qualifying decisions correct.
Yet, in the lead-up to Thursday's Wembley encounter against Serbia, he raised questions when he claimed that three of the nation's top talents - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - struggle to perform in the identical lineup.
"Presently, if we stick with the system, they are unable to feature.
"They can but not with current tactics, not preserving harmony that we developed and not for the structure that incorporates wingers who are essentially experts in their positions. We play at the moment with a six, eight, a 10 and a nine."
From certain starters to fighting for spots
England's creative talents have been used in wide positions for England in the past, but Tuchel's selections imply that the Barcelona loanee and Arsenal's winger are his first choices on the wing positions respectively.
The question remains whether Bellingham, Foden and Kane coexist in the lineup?
Gareth Southgate evidently thought it possible.
Bellingham, Foden and Kane featured in every England's seven matches at the European Championship in Germany, where the England team lost to Spain in the final.
In the 16 games the trio have played simultaneously, England have triumphed 10 times, shared points three times and lost three, scoring 36 times and allowing 14 goals.
Analysis: Foden's versatility gives Tuchel options
Tuchel has employed a four-two-three-one setup that changes shape when England attack.
Morgan Rogers has been the key creative force because of his strong ball-carrying, strike quality and skill in entering the penalty area when the forward retreats.
Tuchel has discussed favoring specialist wingers. The wide attackers play out wide weekly and can maintain possession effectively, engage in one-on-one situations, and enter the area to finish.
Supporting the attacking quartet, Tuchel plays with a midfield two consisting of a holding midfielder and another with greater freedom to join the forward movement.
What solutions exist for the trio?
Foden and Bellingham would be competing with other creative midfielders for the creative hub, with Kane expected to lead up front.
Foden could feature as the main forward, which in theory could enable both Bellingham and Foden to play at Kane's expense.
There is one way all three could play in this system and Tuchel alluded to it this week.
"At Manchester City, he functions as a number eight or 10, so potentially in future we consider him as a number eight," 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, paired with a defensive anchor.
This would then permit Bellingham to feature as the creative force and Kane as the center forward.
Regardless of if Tuchel decides to set England up like this at the global tournament, what appears positive is his readiness to exclude star names in the interest of team harmony.