Three Lions' top talents can't operate simultaneously - is Tuchel right?
Having secured six victories out of six, zero goals allowed and a World Cup spot assured before the final rounds, England manager Thomas Tuchel could suggest he has got all of his big qualifying decisions correct.
Yet, in the lead-up to Thursday's Wembley encounter against Serbia, he sparked a debate when he stated that three of the country's best players - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - struggle to perform in the equivalent formation.
"At the moment, if we keep the structure, they won't fit together.
"They can but not within this system, not for the balance that we developed and not in this formation that comes also with wingers who are highly specialized in their positions. We play at the moment with specific numbered positions."
From automatic picks to contested places
England's creative talents have been deployed on the flanks for England in the past, but Tuchel's selections indicate that the Barcelona loanee and the Gunners' star are his primary selections on the left and right flank respectively.
But can Bellingham, Foden and Kane coexist in the lineup?
The previous England manager evidently thought it possible.
Bellingham, Foden and Kane featured in every England's seven fixtures at Euro 2024 in Germany, where the England team were defeated by Spain in the final.
In the 16 fixtures the three have featured simultaneously, England have triumphed 10 times, shared points three times and suffered three losses, netting 36 goals and letting in 14 strikes.
Tactical insight: Foden's flexibility provides alternatives
Tuchel has played a 4-2-3-1 system that alters structure when England attack.
The Aston Villa player has been the key creative force because of his excellent dribbling, ball-striking and capacity to penetrate the area when the forward retreats.
Tuchel has spoken about preferring natural flank operators. Saka and Gordon play out wide weekly and can retain the ball skillfully, challenge defenders, and enter the area to finish.
Supporting the attacking quartet, Tuchel utilizes two central midfielders consisting of a holding midfielder and a partner with attacking liberty to contribute to the attack.
What solutions exist for the trio?
Foden and Bellingham would be competing with other creative midfielders for the attacking midfield position, with Kane probably featuring up front.
Foden could play as the number nine, which potentially could permit both Bellingham and Foden to operate without the captain.
There is a potential solution all three could feature together and Tuchel hinted at it this week.
"With his club, he operates similarly to a central or attacking midfielder, so perhaps in coming months we consider him as a central midfielder," he said.
Foden has been deployed in a versatile central position this season.
That has permitted him to contribute from midfield and could make him an option as the number eight, next to a more defensive number six.
This would then enable Bellingham to operate 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 bodes well is his preparedness to omit established stars in the interest of team harmony.
