England's star trio are unable to operate simultaneously - does the manager have a point?
With six wins out of six, zero goals allowed and World Cup qualification secured with two group games to spare, Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel might claim he has chosen wisely throughout qualification.
Nevertheless, in the lead-up to Thursday's Wembley encounter against Serbia, he raised questions when he claimed that three of the nation's top talents - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - are unable to feature in the equivalent formation.
"Presently, if we stick with the system, they are unable to feature.
"It's possible but not within this system, not for the balance that we established and not within the framework that also includes wingers who are like specialists in their positions. We currently utilize with defensive, central, attacking midfielders and striker."
From certain starters to fighting for spots
The Manchester City and Real Madrid stars have been used in wide positions for England in the past, but his team selections imply that Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka are his primary selections on the wide areas respectively.
The question remains whether Bellingham, Foden and Kane play together?
Former Three Lions boss apparently believed they could.
Bellingham, Foden and Kane started all of England's seven fixtures at the European Championship 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 secured 10 victories, tied three matches and lost three, netting 36 goals and conceding 14.
Strategic view: Versatile Foden offers solutions
Tuchel has played a 4-2-3-1 system that alters structure 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 striker drops deep.
Tuchel has discussed favoring specialist wingers. The wide attackers regularly feature on the wings and can retain the ball skillfully, engage in one-on-one situations, and enter the area to finish.
Supporting the attacking quartet, Tuchel utilizes two central midfielders consisting of one defensively strict player and another with greater freedom to support offensive play.
What solutions exist for the trio?
Foden and Bellingham would be vying against Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers and Eberechi Eze for the creative hub, with Kane expected to lead up front.
Foden could operate as the central striker, which in theory could permit both Bellingham and Foden to operate without the captain.
There is an alternative approach all three could play in this system and Tuchel alluded to it this week.
"With his club, he plays almost like a central or attacking midfielder, so perhaps in coming months we view him as a central midfielder," he said.
Foden has been utilized as a flexible midfielder this season.
That has enabled him to operate from deeper areas and could categorize him as the advanced playmaker, paired with a defensive anchor.
This would then enable Bellingham to operate as the creative force and Kane as the striker.
Irrespective of whether Tuchel opts to structure the side like this at the global tournament, what appears positive is his readiness to exclude star names in the name of balance.