Kane, Bellingham and Foden are unable to operate simultaneously - does the manager have a point?
Having secured six victories from six matches, an unbreached defense and World Cup qualification secured with two group games to spare, national team coach Thomas Tuchel could suggest he has made the right selection choices.
Nevertheless, in the preparation for Thursday's home game against Serbia, he initiated discussion when he claimed that three of the England's elite footballers - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - are unable to feature in the equivalent formation.
"Currently, if we maintain the formation, they cannot play.
"They might but not with current tactics, not maintaining equilibrium that we created and not for the structure that comes also with wingers who are highly specialized in their positions. We play at the moment with defensive, central, attacking midfielders and striker."
From certain starters to fighting for spots
England's creative talents have been used in wide positions for England in the past, but his team selections suggest that the Barcelona loanee and the Gunners' star are his first choices on the wing positions respectively.
So can Bellingham, Foden and Kane operate simultaneously?
Gareth Southgate certainly thought so.
Bellingham, Foden and Kane were selected for each England's seven matches at the European Championship in Germany, where the national squad fell to the Spanish in the final.
In the 16 games the three have featured alongside each other, England have triumphed 10 times, tied three matches and suffered three losses, scoring 36 times and letting in 14 strikes.
Tactical insight: Foden's flexibility provides alternatives
Tuchel has played a 4-2-3-1 system that transforms formation when England attack.
Morgan Rogers has been the primary attacking midfielder because of his strong ball-carrying, shooting ability and ability to attack the box when the striker drops deep.
Tuchel has discussed favoring dedicated wide players. The wide attackers regularly feature on the wings and can hold the ball well, engage in one-on-one situations, and enter the area to finish.
In midfield behind the attackers, Tuchel employs a double pivot consisting of a disciplined defensive presence and one with more license to contribute to the attack.
Potential configurations for England's stars
Foden and Bellingham would be competing with attacking alternatives for the number 10 role, with Kane likely to start up front.
Foden could feature as the number nine, which potentially could permit both Bellingham and Foden to feature instead of Kane.
There is a potential solution all three could coexist effectively and Tuchel suggested it this week.
"At Manchester City, he functions as a number eight or 10, so potentially in future we regard him as a central midfielder," he said.
Foden has been used in a more all-purpose midfield role this season.
That has allowed him to take responsibility deeper and could make him an option as the advanced playmaker, alongside a holding midfielder.
This would then permit Bellingham to feature as the attacking midfielder and Kane as the nine.
Regardless of if Tuchel chooses to configure the team like this at the international competition, what seems encouraging is his readiness to exclude star names in the name of balance.
