Three Lions' top talents can't operate simultaneously - is Tuchel right?
After achieving six consecutive triumphs in six games, no goals conceded and tournament placement secured with two group games to spare, England manager Thomas Tuchel could suggest he has made the right selection choices.
Yet, in the build-up to Thursday's Wembley encounter against Serbia, he sparked a debate when he said that three of the England's elite footballers - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - cannot play in the equivalent formation.
"At the moment, if we stick with the system, they cannot play.
"They might but not within this system, not maintaining equilibrium that we created and not for the structure that comes also with wingers who are highly specialized in their positions. We presently employ with defensive, central, attacking midfielders and striker."
From automatic picks to contested places
The Manchester City and Real Madrid stars have been utilized out wide for England in the past, but Tuchel's selections suggest that Marcus Rashford and Arsenal's winger are his primary selections on the wing positions respectively.
The question remains whether Bellingham, Foden and Kane operate simultaneously?
Former Three Lions boss evidently thought it possible.
Bellingham, Foden and Kane were selected for each England's seven games at last summer's tournament in Germany, where the England team lost to Spain in the final.
In the 16 matches the stars have performed alongside each other, England have secured 10 victories, drawn three and been defeated three times, netting 36 goals and allowing 14 goals.
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, ball-striking and skill in entering the penalty area when the number nine withdraws.
Tuchel has mentioned preferring dedicated wide players. The Arsenal and Newcastle stars consistently operate in wide areas and can maintain possession effectively, challenge defenders, and appear in scoring positions.
Behind this front four, Tuchel employs a double pivot consisting of a holding midfielder and another with greater freedom to support offensive play.
Potential configurations for England's stars
Foden and Bellingham would be competing with other creative midfielders for the creative hub, with Kane probably featuring up front.
Foden could operate as the number nine, which in theory could enable both Bellingham and Foden to feature instead of Kane.
There is a potential solution all three could feature together and Tuchel hinted at it this week.
"With his club, he functions as a central or attacking midfielder, so maybe during the next months we consider him as a central midfielder," he said.
Foden has been deployed in a versatile central position this season.
That has allowed him to take responsibility deeper and could make him an option as the central midfielder, paired with a defensive anchor.
This would then permit Bellingham to feature as the creative force and Kane as the center forward.
Irrespective of whether Tuchel chooses to configure the team like this at the World Cup, what appears positive is his willingness to leave big players out in the interest of team harmony.
