England's star trio struggle to operate simultaneously - does the manager have a point?
With six wins in six games, zero goals allowed and a World Cup spot assured before the final rounds, England manager Thomas Tuchel could suggest he has got all of his big qualifying decisions correct.
However, in the lead-up to Thursday's home game against Serbia, he sparked a debate when he claimed that three of the country's best players - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - cannot play in the same team.
"At the moment, if we keep the structure, they are unable to feature.
"They might but not in the structure, not for the balance that we created and not within the framework that comes also with wingers who are essentially experts in their positions. We presently employ with a six, eight, a 10 and a nine."
From certain starters to fighting for spots
Foden and Bellingham have been utilized out wide for England in the past, but his team selections suggest that the Barcelona loanee and the Gunners' star are his first choices on the wide areas respectively.
But can Bellingham, Foden and Kane coexist in the lineup?
Gareth Southgate evidently thought it possible.
Bellingham, Foden and Kane were selected for each England's seven matches at Euro 2024 in Germany, where the national squad were defeated by Spain in the final.
In the 16 games the stars have performed alongside each other, England have triumphed 10 times, tied three matches and been defeated three times, registering 36 scores and conceding 14.
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 ability to attack the box when the striker drops deep.
Tuchel has discussed favoring dedicated wide players. The wide attackers regularly feature on the wings and can maintain possession effectively, engage in one-on-one situations, and appear in scoring positions.
In midfield behind the attackers, Tuchel employs a double pivot consisting of a holding midfielder and one with more license to contribute to the attack.
What solutions exist for the trio?
Foden and Bellingham would be vying against attacking alternatives for the attacking midfield position, with Kane probably featuring up front.
Foden could operate as the number nine, which potentially could enable both Bellingham and Foden to play at Kane's expense.
There is an alternative approach all three could coexist effectively and Tuchel hinted at it this week.
"At Manchester City, he functions as a box-to-box or creative role, so maybe during the next months we regard him as a number eight," 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 number eight, alongside a holding midfielder.
This would then allow Bellingham to play as the creative force and Kane as the center forward.
Irrespective of whether Tuchel opts to structure the side like this at the World Cup, what bodes well is his preparedness to omit established stars in the pursuit of tactical equilibrium.