England's star trio can't operate simultaneously - is Tuchel right?

With six wins from six matches, no goals conceded and tournament placement assured before the final rounds, national team coach Thomas Tuchel can argue he has chosen wisely throughout qualification.

Yet, in the lead-up to Thursday's domestic match against Serbia, he raised questions when he stated that three of the England's elite footballers - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - struggle to perform in the same team.

"At the moment, if we stick with the system, they cannot play.

"It's possible but not with current tactics, not maintaining equilibrium that we developed 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

The Manchester City and Real Madrid stars have been used in wide positions for England in the past, but the manager's choices imply that the Manchester United forward and Arsenal's winger are his primary selections on the left and right flank respectively.

The question remains whether Bellingham, Foden and Kane coexist in the lineup?

The previous England manager certainly thought so.

Bellingham, Foden and Kane featured in every England's seven games at the European Championship in Germany, where the England team fell to the Spanish in the final.

In the 16 matches the stars have performed alongside each other, England have triumphed 10 times, drawn three and lost three, registering 36 scores and letting in 14 strikes.

Tactical insight: Foden's flexibility provides alternatives

Tuchel has played a 4-2-3-1 system that changes shape when England attack.

The young midfielder has been the primary attacking midfielder because of his impressive ball progression, shooting ability and capacity to penetrate the area when the number nine withdraws.

Tuchel has discussed favoring natural flank operators. The Arsenal and Newcastle stars regularly feature on the wings and can hold the ball well, take their full-back on, and enter the area to finish.

Supporting the attacking quartet, Tuchel plays with a midfield two consisting of a disciplined defensive presence and another with greater freedom 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 likely to start up front.

Foden could play as the central striker, which potentially could enable both Bellingham and Foden to play at Kane's expense.

There is an alternative approach all three could feature together and Tuchel hinted at it this week.

"With his club, he operates similarly to a number eight or 10, so maybe during the next months we consider 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 categorize him as the number eight, paired with a defensive anchor.

This would then enable Bellingham to operate as the number 10 and Kane as the striker.

Regardless of if Tuchel opts to structure the side like this at the international competition, what seems encouraging is his preparedness to omit established stars in the interest of team harmony.