Kane, Bellingham and Foden are unable to fit in the same lineup - does the manager have a point?
Having secured six victories from six matches, zero goals allowed and World Cup qualification confirmed with matches remaining, Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel might claim he has made the right selection choices.
Nevertheless, in the preparation for Thursday's Wembley encounter against Serbia, he initiated discussion when he claimed that three of the England's elite footballers - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - struggle to perform in the equivalent formation.
"Presently, if we maintain the formation, they cannot play.
"They can but not in the structure, not preserving harmony that we created and not within the framework that incorporates wingers who are highly specialized in their positions. We currently utilize with specific numbered positions."
From guaranteed positions to competitive roles
The Manchester City and Real Madrid stars have been utilized out wide for England in the past, but Tuchel's selections imply that the Manchester United forward and Bukayo Saka are his first choices on the wing positions respectively.
But can Bellingham, Foden and Kane coexist in the lineup?
The previous England manager certainly thought so.
Bellingham, Foden and Kane were selected for each England's seven fixtures at the European Championship in Germany, where the England team were defeated by Spain in the final.
In the 16 fixtures the three have featured alongside each other, England have triumphed 10 times, drawn three and suffered three losses, registering 36 scores and conceding 14.
Strategic view: Versatile Foden offers solutions
Tuchel has employed a four-two-three-one setup that transforms formation 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 forward retreats.
Tuchel has mentioned preferring specialist wingers. The Arsenal and Newcastle stars play out wide weekly and can hold the ball well, take their full-back on, and arrive in the box to score.
Behind this front four, Tuchel plays with a midfield two consisting of one defensively strict player and a partner with attacking liberty to contribute to the attack.
So how could Tuchel use these three players?
Foden and Bellingham would be battling with Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers and Eberechi Eze for the creative hub, with Kane probably featuring up front.
Foden could play as the number nine, which theoretically could allow both Bellingham and Foden to feature instead of Kane.
There is one way all three could play in this system and Tuchel alluded to it this week.
"At Manchester City, 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 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, alongside a holding midfielder.
This would then enable Bellingham to operate as the number 10 and Kane as the center forward.
No matter whether Tuchel opts to structure the side like this at the international competition, what seems encouraging is his preparedness to omit established stars in the name of balance.
