Kane, Bellingham and Foden are unable to play together - does the manager have a point?
Having secured six victories out of six, no goals conceded and World Cup qualification assured before the final rounds, Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel could suggest he has got all of his big qualifying decisions correct.
Nevertheless, in the preparation for Thursday's domestic match 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 same team.
"Presently, if we maintain the formation, they won't fit together.
"It's possible but not with current tactics, not preserving harmony that we developed and not in this formation 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
The Manchester City and Real Madrid stars have been utilized out wide for England in the past, but his team selections indicate that the Manchester United forward and Bukayo Saka are his primary selections on the left and right flank respectively.
But can Bellingham, Foden and Kane operate simultaneously?
The previous England manager apparently believed they could.
Bellingham, Foden and Kane featured in every England's seven fixtures at last summer's tournament in Germany, where the England team were defeated by Spain in the final.
In the 16 games the three have featured alongside each other, England have triumphed 10 times, drawn three and suffered three losses, registering 36 scores and letting in 14 strikes.
Analysis: Foden's versatility gives Tuchel options
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 excellent dribbling, strike quality and capacity to penetrate the area when the number nine withdraws.
Tuchel has spoken about preferring natural flank operators. The wide attackers play out wide weekly and can hold the ball well, take their full-back on, and appear in scoring positions.
Supporting the attacking quartet, Tuchel plays with a midfield two consisting of a disciplined defensive presence and another with greater freedom to support offensive play.
What solutions exist for the trio?
Foden and Bellingham would be vying against other creative midfielders for the number 10 role, with Kane expected to lead up front.
Foden could play as the number nine, which in theory could allow both Bellingham and Foden to play at Kane's expense.
There is a potential solution all three could feature together and Tuchel suggested it this week.
"At Manchester City, he operates similarly to a box-to-box or creative role, so perhaps in coming months we regard him as a number eight," 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 position him as the number eight, next to a more defensive number six.
This would then enable Bellingham to operate as the creative force and Kane as the nine.
No matter whether Tuchel chooses to configure the team like this at the World Cup, what bodes well is his preparedness to omit established stars in the pursuit of tactical equilibrium.
