England's star trio can't play together - is Tuchel right?
Having secured six victories in six games, an unbreached defense and a World Cup spot secured with two group games to spare, national team coach Thomas Tuchel can argue he has chosen wisely throughout qualification.
However, in the lead-up to Thursday's Wembley encounter against Serbia, he initiated discussion when he said that three of the nation's top talents - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - struggle to perform in the same team.
"Presently, if we maintain the formation, they won't fit together.
"They can but not in the structure, not preserving harmony that we developed and not for the structure that also includes wingers who are highly specialized in their positions. We presently employ with specific numbered positions."
From guaranteed positions to competitive roles
The Manchester City and Real Madrid stars have been used in wide positions for England in the past, but the manager's choices imply that the Manchester United forward and Arsenal's winger are his first choices on the left and right flank respectively.
The question remains whether Bellingham, Foden and Kane play together?
Former Three Lions boss apparently believed they could.
Bellingham, Foden and Kane featured in every England's seven games at Euro 2024 in Germany, where Southgate's side lost to Spain in the final.
In the 16 fixtures the trio have played simultaneously, England have triumphed 10 times, drawn three and been defeated three times, netting 36 goals and conceding 14.
Strategic view: Versatile Foden offers solutions
Tuchel has utilized a 4-2-3-1 formation that changes shape when England attack.
The young midfielder has been the key creative force because of his excellent dribbling, shooting ability and skill in entering the penalty area when the forward retreats.
Tuchel has spoken about preferring specialist wingers. The wide attackers play out wide weekly and can retain the ball skillfully, challenge defenders, and appear in scoring positions.
Supporting the attacking quartet, Tuchel employs a double pivot consisting of a disciplined defensive presence and another with greater freedom to support offensive play.
So how could Tuchel use these three players?
Foden and Bellingham would be vying against Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers and Eberechi Eze for the attacking midfield position, with Kane likely to start up front.
Foden could feature as the main forward, which theoretically could allow both Bellingham and Foden to operate without the captain.
There is an alternative approach all three could coexist effectively and Tuchel suggested it this week.
"With his club, he functions as a number eight or 10, so potentially in future we consider him as a box-to-box player," he said.
Foden has been used in a more all-purpose midfield role this season.
That has permitted him to contribute from midfield and could make him an option as the advanced playmaker, paired with a defensive anchor.
This would then permit Bellingham to feature as the creative force and Kane as the nine.
Regardless of if Tuchel decides to set England up like this at the global tournament, what seems encouraging is his willingness to leave big players out in the name of balance.
