Three Lions' top talents can't play together - does the manager have a point?
With six wins from six matches, no goals conceded and a World Cup spot secured with two group games to spare, Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel can argue he has chosen wisely throughout qualification.
Yet, in the build-up to Thursday's domestic match against Serbia, he raised questions when he stated that three of the nation's top talents - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - struggle to perform in the same team.
"At the moment, if we maintain the formation, they cannot play.
"They might but not in the structure, not preserving harmony that we developed and not for the structure that incorporates wingers who are highly specialized in their positions. We play at the moment with defensive, central, attacking midfielders and striker."
From automatic picks to contested places
England's creative talents have been deployed on the flanks for England in the past, but his team selections indicate that the Manchester United forward and Bukayo Saka are his first choices on the wide areas respectively.
But can Bellingham, Foden and Kane play together?
The previous England manager apparently believed they could.
Bellingham, Foden and Kane were selected for each England's seven matches at the European Championship in Germany, where the national squad lost to Spain in the final.
In the 16 games the stars have performed together, England have triumphed 10 times, tied three matches and lost three, netting 36 goals and conceding 14.
Tactical insight: Foden's flexibility provides alternatives
Tuchel has utilized a 4-2-3-1 formation that transforms formation when England attack.
The Aston Villa player has been the main number 10 because of his impressive ball progression, strike quality and ability to attack the box when the forward retreats.
Tuchel has discussed favoring natural flank operators. Saka and Gordon regularly feature on the wings and can hold the ball well, take their full-back on, and appear in scoring positions.
In midfield behind the attackers, Tuchel employs a double pivot consisting of one defensively strict player and one with more license to contribute to the attack.
What solutions exist for the trio?
Foden and Bellingham would be vying against other creative midfielders for the creative hub, with Kane expected to lead up front.
Foden could operate as the main forward, which potentially could permit both Bellingham and Foden to operate without the captain.
There is one way all three could play in this system and Tuchel suggested it this week.
"With his club, he operates similarly to a box-to-box or creative role, so perhaps in coming months we view him as a box-to-box player," he said.
Foden has been deployed in a versatile central position this season.
That has permitted him to contribute from midfield and could categorize him as the advanced playmaker, next to a more defensive number six.
This would then enable Bellingham to operate as the attacking midfielder and Kane as the center forward.
No matter whether Tuchel decides to set England up like this at the global tournament, what bodes well is his readiness to exclude star names in the interest of team harmony.