England's star trio can't fit in the same lineup - does the manager have a point?
After achieving six consecutive triumphs out of six, no goals conceded and World Cup qualification assured before the final rounds, England manager Thomas Tuchel might claim he has made the right selection choices.
Nevertheless, in the build-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 equivalent formation.
"Currently, if we maintain the formation, they cannot play.
"They might but not with current tactics, not maintaining equilibrium that we created and not for the structure that also includes wingers who are highly specialized in their positions. We currently utilize with defensive, central, attacking midfielders and striker."
From certain starters to fighting for spots
Foden and Bellingham have been used in wide positions for England in the past, but his team selections indicate that Marcus Rashford and the Gunners' star are his preferred options on the wide areas respectively.
So can Bellingham, Foden and Kane operate simultaneously?
The previous England manager evidently thought it possible.
Bellingham, Foden and Kane were selected for each England's seven games at last summer's tournament in Germany, where the England team were defeated by Spain in the final.
In the 16 fixtures the three have featured together, England have won 10, drawn three and been defeated three times, scoring 36 times and allowing 14 goals.
Tactical insight: Foden's flexibility provides alternatives
Tuchel has played a 4-2-3-1 system that changes shape when England attack.
The young midfielder has been the main number 10 because of his excellent dribbling, strike quality and skill in entering the penalty area when the forward retreats.
Tuchel has discussed favoring specialist wingers. The wide attackers consistently operate in wide areas and can maintain possession effectively, engage in one-on-one situations, and enter the area to finish.
Supporting the attacking quartet, Tuchel utilizes two central midfielders consisting of one defensively strict player and a partner with attacking liberty to join the forward movement.
Potential configurations for England's stars
Foden and Bellingham would be competing with other creative midfielders for the number 10 role, with Kane probably featuring up front.
Foden could operate as the number nine, which theoretically could enable both Bellingham and Foden to feature instead of Kane.
There is one way all three could play in this system and Tuchel hinted at it this week.
"For Man City, he operates similarly to a central or attacking midfielder, so perhaps in coming months we consider him as a number eight," he said.
Foden has been used in a more all-purpose midfield role this season.
That has enabled him to operate from deeper areas and could categorize him as the advanced playmaker, alongside a holding midfielder.
This would then allow Bellingham to play as the creative force and Kane as the center forward.
No matter whether Tuchel decides to set England up like this at the international competition, what bodes well is his willingness to leave big players out in the interest of team harmony.
