Three Lions' top talents can't play together - is Tuchel right?
After achieving six consecutive triumphs in six games, zero goals allowed and tournament placement secured with two group games to spare, national team coach Thomas Tuchel might claim he has made the right selection choices.
Yet, in the lead-up to Thursday's domestic match against Serbia, he raised questions when he stated that three of the England's elite footballers - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - struggle to perform in the identical lineup.
"At the moment, if we maintain the formation, they cannot play.
"It's possible but not with current tactics, not maintaining equilibrium that we established and not within the framework that also includes wingers who are like specialists in their positions. We play at the moment 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 Tuchel's selections indicate that the Barcelona loanee and the Gunners' star are his primary selections on the wide areas respectively.
The question remains whether Bellingham, Foden and Kane play together?
The previous England manager apparently believed they could.
Bellingham, Foden and Kane were selected for each England's seven games at last summer's tournament in Germany, where Southgate's side fell to the Spanish in the final.
In the 16 games the stars have performed simultaneously, England have won 10, drawn three and been defeated three times, netting 36 goals and letting in 14 strikes.
Strategic view: Versatile Foden offers solutions
Tuchel has utilized a 4-2-3-1 formation that changes shape when England attack.
Morgan Rogers has been the main number 10 because of his excellent dribbling, shooting ability and capacity to penetrate the area when the striker drops deep.
Tuchel has spoken about preferring dedicated wide players. The Arsenal and Newcastle stars regularly feature on the wings and can hold the ball well, engage in one-on-one situations, and enter the area to finish.
Supporting the attacking quartet, Tuchel utilizes two central midfielders consisting of a holding midfielder and a partner with attacking liberty to support offensive play.
So how could Tuchel use these three players?
Foden and Bellingham would be vying against other creative midfielders for the creative hub, with Kane expected to lead up front.
Foden could operate as the central striker, which theoretically could enable both Bellingham and Foden to operate without the captain.
There is a potential solution all three could coexist effectively and Tuchel hinted at it this week.
"With his club, he functions as a box-to-box or creative role, so maybe during the next months we consider him as a central midfielder," 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 allow Bellingham to play as the attacking midfielder and Kane as the nine.
Regardless of if Tuchel opts to structure the side like this at the global tournament, what seems encouraging is his readiness to exclude star names in the interest of team harmony.
