Three Lions' top talents can't operate simultaneously - is Tuchel right?
Having secured six victories out of six, an unbreached defense and a World Cup spot confirmed with matches remaining, England manager Thomas Tuchel could suggest he has made the right selection choices.
Yet, in the build-up to Thursday's home game against Serbia, he sparked a debate when he claimed that three of the nation's top talents - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - are unable to feature in the identical lineup.
"Currently, if we keep the structure, they are unable to feature.
"They can but not within this system, not for the balance that we established and not within the framework that also includes wingers who are highly specialized in their positions. We currently utilize with defensive, central, attacking midfielders and striker."
From guaranteed positions to competitive roles
Foden and Bellingham have been deployed on the flanks for England in the past, but his team selections indicate that Marcus Rashford and the Gunners' star are his first choices on the left and right flank respectively.
So can Bellingham, Foden and Kane play together?
The previous England manager apparently believed they could.
Bellingham, Foden and Kane started all of England's seven fixtures at last summer's tournament in Germany, where Southgate's side lost to Spain in the final.
In the 16 games the stars have performed simultaneously, England have secured 10 victories, shared points three times and suffered three losses, netting 36 goals and letting in 14 strikes.
Tactical insight: Foden's flexibility provides alternatives
Tuchel has utilized a 4-2-3-1 formation that alters structure when England attack.
The young midfielder has been the main number 10 because of his impressive ball progression, strike quality and ability to attack the box when the striker drops deep.
Tuchel has spoken about preferring specialist wingers. The Arsenal and Newcastle stars regularly feature on the wings and can hold the ball well, challenge defenders, and appear in scoring positions.
Behind this front four, Tuchel utilizes two central midfielders consisting of a holding midfielder and another with greater freedom to contribute to the attack.
What solutions exist for the trio?
Foden and Bellingham would be battling with attacking alternatives for the attacking midfield position, with Kane expected to lead up front.
Foden could feature as the central striker, which theoretically could allow both Bellingham and Foden to operate without the captain.
There is a potential solution all three could feature together and Tuchel hinted at it this week.
"With his club, he operates similarly to a central or attacking midfielder, so potentially in future we regard him as a number eight," he said.
Foden has been utilized as a flexible midfielder this season.
That has allowed him to take responsibility deeper and could make him an option as the central midfielder, next to a more defensive number six.
This would then permit Bellingham to feature as the creative force and Kane as the nine.
No matter whether Tuchel decides to set England up like this at the global tournament, what bodes well is his preparedness to omit established stars in the name of balance.