🔗 Share this article England's star trio are unable to operate simultaneously - what's the verdict? Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden have been crucial figures for England over the recent half-decade Having secured six victories in six games, no goals conceded and a World Cup spot secured with two group games to spare, England manager Thomas Tuchel can argue he has got all of his big qualifying decisions correct. Yet, in the lead-up to Thursday's domestic match against Serbia, he sparked a debate when he stated that three of the country's best players - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - cannot play in the same team. "Currently, if we maintain the formation, they won't fit together. "It's possible but not with current tactics, not for the balance that we established and not for the structure that comes also with wingers who are highly specialized in their positions. We currently utilize with specific numbered positions." From guaranteed positions to competitive roles England's creative talents have been deployed on the flanks for England in the past, but the manager's choices suggest that the Manchester United forward and Arsenal's winger are his preferred options on the wide areas respectively. So can Bellingham, Foden and Kane coexist in the lineup? Gareth Southgate evidently thought it possible. Bellingham, Foden and Kane started all of England's seven games at Euro 2024 in Germany, where Southgate's side were defeated by Spain in the final. In the 16 fixtures the three have featured simultaneously, England have secured 10 victories, drawn three and been defeated three times, registering 36 scores and letting in 14 strikes. Analysis: Foden's versatility gives Tuchel options Tuchel has played a 4-2-3-1 system that changes shape when England attack. The young midfielder has been the key creative force because of his strong ball-carrying, ball-striking and skill in entering the penalty area when the number nine withdraws. Tuchel has discussed favoring specialist wingers. The wide attackers play out wide weekly and can hold the ball well, take their full-back on, and arrive in the box to score. In midfield behind the attackers, Tuchel plays with a midfield two consisting of a holding midfielder and another with greater freedom to join the forward movement. Potential configurations for England's stars Foden and Bellingham would be vying against attacking alternatives for the creative hub, with Kane expected to lead up front. Foden could feature as the central striker, which in theory could enable both Bellingham and Foden to play at Kane's expense. There is an alternative approach all three could coexist effectively and Tuchel alluded to it this week. "With his club, he plays almost like a number eight or 10, so maybe during the next months we consider him as a number eight," he said. Foden has been utilized as a flexible midfielder this season. That has permitted him to contribute from midfield and could position him as the number eight, next to a more defensive number six. This would then allow Bellingham to play as the creative force and Kane as the center forward. Irrespective of whether Tuchel opts to structure the side like this at the World Cup, what appears positive is his willingness to leave big players out in the interest of team harmony.