Kane, Bellingham and Foden can't fit in the same lineup - does the manager have a point?
After achieving six consecutive triumphs in six games, no goals conceded and tournament placement secured with two group games to spare, national team coach Thomas Tuchel could suggest he has chosen wisely throughout qualification.
Yet, in the lead-up to Thursday's Wembley encounter against Serbia, he initiated discussion when he stated that three of the nation's top talents - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - are unable to feature in the identical lineup.
"At the moment, if we keep the structure, they cannot play.
"It's possible but not within this system, not for the balance that we developed and not for the structure that comes also with wingers who are essentially experts 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 indicate that the Manchester United forward and Arsenal's winger are his first choices on the left and right flank respectively.
The question remains whether Bellingham, Foden and Kane operate simultaneously?
The previous England manager certainly thought so.
Bellingham, Foden and Kane featured in every England's seven fixtures at last summer's tournament in Germany, where the England team lost to Spain in the final.
In the 16 fixtures the stars have performed alongside each other, England have won 10, drawn three and lost three, netting 36 goals and letting in 14 strikes.
Analysis: Foden's versatility gives Tuchel options
Tuchel has utilized a 4-2-3-1 formation that changes shape when England attack.
The Aston Villa player has been the key creative force 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 wide attackers consistently operate in wide areas and can maintain possession effectively, take their full-back on, and arrive in the box to score.
In midfield behind the attackers, Tuchel utilizes two central midfielders consisting of a disciplined defensive presence and another with greater freedom to join the forward movement.
So how could Tuchel use these three players?
Foden and Bellingham would be battling with other creative midfielders for the attacking midfield position, with Kane expected to lead up front.
Foden could play as the number nine, which in theory could permit 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 potentially in future we consider 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 categorize him as the advanced playmaker, alongside a holding midfielder.
This would then permit Bellingham to feature as the attacking midfielder and Kane as the nine.
Irrespective of whether Tuchel decides to set England up like this at the global tournament, what appears positive is his willingness to leave big players out in the name of balance.
