Three Lions' top talents are unable to operate simultaneously - is Tuchel right?
After achieving six consecutive triumphs in six games, no goals conceded and tournament placement confirmed with matches remaining, England manager Thomas Tuchel could suggest he has got all of his big qualifying decisions correct.
However, in the build-up to Thursday's home game against Serbia, he raised questions when he said that three of the England's elite footballers - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - struggle to perform in the same team.
"Currently, if we maintain the formation, they are unable to feature.
"They might but not within this system, not maintaining equilibrium that we created and not within the framework that also includes wingers who are like specialists in their positions. We currently utilize with a six, eight, a 10 and a nine."
From automatic picks to contested places
Foden and Bellingham have been utilized out wide for England in the past, but the manager's choices indicate that Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka are his primary selections on the wide areas respectively.
The question remains whether Bellingham, Foden and Kane coexist in the lineup?
Former Three Lions boss apparently believed they could.
Bellingham, Foden and Kane featured in every England's seven fixtures at Euro 2024 in Germany, where the national squad lost to Spain in the final.
In the 16 matches the three have featured alongside each other, England have secured 10 victories, shared points three times and lost three, scoring 36 times and allowing 14 goals.
Tactical insight: Foden's flexibility provides alternatives
Tuchel has played a 4-2-3-1 system that transforms formation when England attack.
Morgan Rogers has been the main number 10 because of his strong ball-carrying, ball-striking and skill in entering the penalty area when the striker drops deep.
Tuchel has discussed favoring natural flank operators. The wide attackers regularly feature on the wings and can retain the ball skillfully, challenge defenders, and arrive in the box to score.
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.
Potential configurations for England's stars
Foden and Bellingham would be competing with attacking alternatives for the number 10 role, with Kane expected to lead up front.
Foden could feature as the main forward, which potentially could enable both Bellingham and Foden to play at Kane's expense.
There is an alternative approach all three could coexist effectively and Tuchel hinted at it this week.
"With his club, he plays almost like a box-to-box or creative role, so perhaps in coming months we view him as a number eight," he said.
Foden has been deployed in a versatile central position this season.
That has enabled him to operate from deeper areas 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 number 10 and Kane as the nine.
No matter whether Tuchel opts to structure the side like this at the World Cup, what bodes well is his preparedness to omit established stars in the name of balance.