Three Lions' top talents can't play together - what's the verdict?
With six wins from six matches, zero goals allowed and World Cup qualification confirmed with matches remaining, Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel could suggest he has made the right selection choices.
Yet, in the preparation for Thursday's domestic match 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 equivalent formation.
"At the moment, if we keep the structure, they won't fit together.
"They might but not in the structure, not preserving harmony that we established and not in this formation that comes also with wingers who are highly specialized in their positions. We presently employ with a six, eight, a 10 and a nine."
From guaranteed positions to competitive roles
England's creative talents have been used in wide positions for England in the past, but the manager's choices indicate that the Barcelona loanee and Arsenal's winger are his first choices on the left and right flank respectively.
The question remains whether Bellingham, Foden and Kane operate simultaneously?
The previous England manager certainly thought so.
Bellingham, Foden and Kane were selected for each England's seven games at the European Championship in Germany, where the national squad fell to the Spanish in the final.
In the 16 games the trio have played simultaneously, England have triumphed 10 times, tied three matches 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 alters structure when England attack.
The Aston Villa player has been the primary attacking midfielder because of his impressive ball progression, shooting ability and ability to attack the box when the forward retreats.
Tuchel has mentioned preferring specialist wingers. Saka and Gordon regularly feature on the wings and can maintain possession effectively, challenge defenders, and enter the area to finish.
Supporting the attacking quartet, Tuchel utilizes two central midfielders consisting of a disciplined defensive presence and a partner with attacking liberty to support offensive play.
What solutions exist for the trio?
Foden and Bellingham would be competing with attacking alternatives for the number 10 role, with Kane expected to lead up front.
Foden could operate as the main forward, which potentially could enable both Bellingham and Foden to play at Kane's expense.
There is an alternative approach all three could feature together and Tuchel hinted at it this week.
"For Man City, he functions as a box-to-box or creative role, so maybe during the next months we view him as a box-to-box player," he said.
Foden has been utilized as a flexible midfielder this season.
That has enabled him to operate from deeper areas and could position him as the central midfielder, paired with a defensive anchor.
This would then permit Bellingham to feature as the attacking midfielder and Kane as the striker.
Regardless of if Tuchel opts to structure the side like this at the World Cup, what seems encouraging is his willingness to leave big players out in the interest of team harmony.