England's star trio can't fit in the same lineup - does the manager have a point?
Having secured six victories out of six, an unbreached defense and tournament placement secured with two group games to spare, national team coach Thomas Tuchel can argue he has got all of his big qualifying decisions correct.
Yet, in the lead-up to Thursday's Wembley encounter against Serbia, he sparked a debate when he said that three of the country's best players - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - struggle to perform in the identical lineup.
"Currently, if we maintain the formation, they are unable to feature.
"It's possible but not within this system, not preserving harmony that we established and not in this formation that also includes wingers who are highly specialized in their positions. We currently utilize with defensive, central, attacking midfielders and striker."
From automatic picks to contested places
Foden and Bellingham have been used in wide positions for England in the past, but Tuchel's selections indicate that Marcus Rashford and the Gunners' star are his preferred options on the wing positions respectively.
So can Bellingham, Foden and Kane coexist in the lineup?
The previous England manager evidently thought it possible.
Bellingham, Foden and Kane were selected for each England's seven matches at last summer's tournament in Germany, where Southgate's side lost to Spain in the final.
In the 16 matches the three have featured simultaneously, England have secured 10 victories, drawn three and suffered three losses, registering 36 scores and letting in 14 strikes.
Tactical insight: Foden's flexibility provides alternatives
Tuchel has employed a four-two-three-one setup that changes shape when England attack.
Morgan Rogers has been the main number 10 because of his strong ball-carrying, shooting ability and skill in entering the penalty area when the number nine withdraws.
Tuchel has spoken about preferring natural flank operators. The wide attackers play out wide weekly and can retain the ball skillfully, challenge defenders, 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 support offensive play.
What solutions exist for the trio?
Foden and Bellingham would be vying against attacking alternatives for the number 10 role, with Kane expected to lead up front.
Foden could operate as the main forward, which theoretically could allow both Bellingham and Foden to operate without the captain.
There is a potential solution all three could play in this system and Tuchel alluded to it this week.
"For Man City, he functions as a central or attacking midfielder, so potentially in future we consider 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 enable Bellingham to operate as the number 10 and Kane as the center forward.
No matter whether Tuchel opts to structure the side like this at the global tournament, what appears positive is his preparedness to omit established stars in the interest of team harmony.
