Kane, Bellingham and Foden struggle to operate simultaneously - does the manager have a point?

With six wins in six games, no goals conceded and World Cup qualification assured before the final rounds, national team coach Thomas Tuchel could suggest he has made the right selection choices.

However, in the preparation for Thursday's home game against Serbia, he raised questions when he stated that three of the country's best players - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - are unable to feature in the same team.

"Presently, if we maintain the formation, they cannot play.

"They can but not in the structure, not preserving harmony that we established and not in this formation that comes also with wingers who are highly specialized in their positions. We currently utilize with defensive, central, attacking midfielders and striker."

From guaranteed positions to competitive roles

The Manchester City and Real Madrid stars have been deployed on the flanks for England in the past, but Tuchel's selections suggest that the Manchester United forward and Arsenal's winger are his primary selections on the wing positions respectively.

So can Bellingham, Foden and Kane operate simultaneously?

The previous England manager certainly thought so.

Bellingham, Foden and Kane featured in every England's seven matches at Euro 2024 in Germany, where the England team lost to Spain in the final.

In the 16 games the three have featured together, England have triumphed 10 times, tied three matches and been defeated three times, netting 36 goals and letting in 14 strikes.

Tactical insight: Foden's flexibility provides alternatives

Tuchel has utilized a 4-2-3-1 formation that alters structure when England attack.

The Aston Villa player has been the key creative force because of his excellent dribbling, strike quality and ability to attack the box when the striker drops deep.

Tuchel has mentioned preferring dedicated wide players. Saka and Gordon 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 a disciplined defensive presence and one with more license to join the forward movement.

Potential configurations for England's stars

Foden and Bellingham would be battling with Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers and Eberechi Eze for the number 10 role, with Kane expected to lead up front.

Foden could operate as the number nine, which potentially could enable both Bellingham and Foden to operate without the captain.

There is a potential solution all three could coexist effectively and Tuchel hinted at it this week.

"For Man City, he functions as a box-to-box or creative role, so maybe during the next months we regard him as a box-to-box player," he said.

Foden has been used in a more all-purpose midfield role this season.

That has enabled him to operate from deeper areas and could make him an option as the central midfielder, alongside a holding midfielder.

This would then permit Bellingham to feature as the creative force and Kane as the center forward.

Regardless of if Tuchel opts to structure the side like this at the international competition, what bodes well is his preparedness to omit established stars in the name of balance.