Three Lions' top talents are unable to operate simultaneously - does the manager have a point?
With six wins in six games, no goals conceded and World Cup qualification assured before the final rounds, Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel could suggest he has made the right selection choices.
Yet, in the lead-up to Thursday's domestic match against Serbia, he raised questions when he stated that three of the nation's top talents - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - struggle to perform in the equivalent formation.
"Currently, if we stick with the system, they won't fit together.
"They might but not with current tactics, not preserving harmony that we established and not for the structure that comes also with wingers who are essentially experts in their positions. We currently utilize with a six, eight, a 10 and a nine."
From certain starters to fighting for spots
Foden and Bellingham have been utilized out wide for England in the past, but Tuchel's selections suggest that the Barcelona loanee and the Gunners' star are his primary selections on the wing positions respectively.
So can Bellingham, Foden and Kane operate simultaneously?
Former Three Lions boss certainly thought so.
Bellingham, Foden and Kane featured in every England's seven matches at Euro 2024 in Germany, where Southgate's side fell to the Spanish 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 letting in 14 strikes.
Analysis: Foden's versatility gives Tuchel options
Tuchel has utilized a 4-2-3-1 formation that alters structure when England attack.
The Aston Villa player has been the main number 10 because of his excellent dribbling, shooting ability and ability to attack the box when the forward retreats.
Tuchel has discussed favoring natural flank operators. The wide attackers regularly feature on the wings and can hold the ball well, take their full-back on, and appear in scoring positions.
In midfield behind the attackers, Tuchel utilizes two central midfielders consisting of one defensively strict player and one with more license to contribute to the attack.
Potential configurations for England's stars
Foden and Bellingham would be vying against other creative midfielders for the number 10 role, with Kane likely to start up front.
Foden could play as the central striker, which theoretically could permit both Bellingham and Foden to play at Kane's expense.
There is one way all three could play in this system and Tuchel alluded to it this week.
"For Man City, he operates similarly to a number eight or 10, so potentially in future we view him as a number eight," he said.
Foden has been utilized as a flexible midfielder this season.
That has enabled him to operate from deeper areas and could categorize him as the advanced playmaker, next to a more defensive number six.
This would then allow Bellingham to play as the number 10 and Kane as the nine.
Irrespective of whether Tuchel decides to set England up like this at the World Cup, what bodes well is his readiness to exclude star names in the name of balance.