Kane, Bellingham and Foden are unable to play together - does the manager have a point?
After achieving six consecutive triumphs in six games, an unbreached defense and tournament placement secured with two group games to spare, national team coach Thomas Tuchel can argue he has chosen wisely throughout qualification.
Nevertheless, in the build-up to Thursday's home game against Serbia, he raised questions when he said that three of the country's best players - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - cannot play in the equivalent formation.
"Presently, if we keep the structure, they cannot play.
"They might but not with current tactics, not preserving harmony that we established and not for the structure that incorporates wingers who are essentially experts in their positions. We currently utilize with defensive, central, attacking midfielders and striker."
From guaranteed positions to competitive roles
Foden and Bellingham have been utilized out wide for England in the past, but his team selections indicate that Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka are his first choices on the wing positions respectively.
But can Bellingham, Foden and Kane coexist in the lineup?
Gareth Southgate certainly thought so.
Bellingham, Foden and Kane featured in every England's seven matches at the European Championship in Germany, where the England team were defeated by Spain in the final.
In the 16 fixtures the three have featured alongside each other, England have triumphed 10 times, shared points three times and suffered three losses, registering 36 scores and conceding 14.
Analysis: Foden's versatility gives Tuchel options
Tuchel has played a 4-2-3-1 system that changes shape when England attack.
Morgan Rogers has been the key creative force because of his excellent dribbling, strike quality and ability to attack the box 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.
Behind this front four, Tuchel employs a double pivot consisting of a disciplined defensive presence and another with greater freedom to join the forward movement.
Potential configurations for England's stars
Foden and Bellingham would be vying against other creative midfielders for the attacking midfield position, with Kane probably featuring up front.
Foden could feature as the central striker, which theoretically could allow both Bellingham and Foden to feature instead of Kane.
There is an alternative approach all three could play in this system and Tuchel suggested it this week.
"With his club, he operates similarly to a number eight or 10, so maybe during the next months we view 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 number eight, paired with a defensive anchor.
This would then allow Bellingham to play as the attacking midfielder and Kane as the center forward.
No matter whether Tuchel chooses to configure the team like this at the global tournament, what seems encouraging is his willingness to leave big players out in the interest of team harmony.
