🔗 Share this article Three Lions' top talents can't fit in the same lineup - does the manager have a point? Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden have been key players for England over the recent half-decade Having secured six victories in six games, no goals conceded and a World Cup spot confirmed with matches remaining, national team coach Thomas Tuchel might claim he has made the right selection choices. Yet, in the lead-up to Thursday's home game against Serbia, he sparked a debate when he claimed that three of the England's elite footballers - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - struggle to perform in the same team. "Presently, if we keep the structure, they cannot play. "They can but not within this system, not maintaining equilibrium that we established and not in this formation that incorporates wingers who are essentially experts in their positions. We presently employ with a six, eight, a 10 and a nine." From automatic picks to contested places Foden and Bellingham have been used in wide positions for England in the past, but Tuchel's selections indicate that the Manchester United forward and Bukayo Saka are his preferred options on the wing positions respectively. The question remains whether Bellingham, Foden and Kane operate simultaneously? Gareth Southgate apparently believed they could. Bellingham, Foden and Kane featured in every England's seven games at Euro 2024 in Germany, where the England team lost to Spain in the final. In the 16 matches the stars have performed together, England have won 10, shared points three times 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 alters structure when England attack. The young midfielder has been the key creative force because of his excellent dribbling, ball-striking and skill in entering the penalty area when the number nine withdraws. Tuchel has spoken about preferring dedicated wide players. The wide attackers play out wide weekly and can hold the ball well, challenge defenders, and appear in scoring positions. Behind this front four, Tuchel plays with a midfield two consisting of one defensively strict player and a partner with attacking liberty to support offensive play. What solutions exist for the trio? Foden and Bellingham would be competing with other creative midfielders for the number 10 role, with Kane probably featuring up front. Foden could operate as the central striker, which potentially could permit both Bellingham and Foden to feature instead of Kane. There is a potential solution all three could feature together and Tuchel suggested it this week. "For Man City, he functions as a box-to-box or creative role, so maybe during the next months we view him as a box-to-box player," he said. Foden has been deployed in a versatile central position this season. That has permitted him to contribute from midfield and could position him as the central midfielder, next to a more defensive number six. This would then allow Bellingham to play as the attacking midfielder and Kane as the center forward. No matter whether Tuchel chooses to configure the team like this at the World Cup, what appears positive is his readiness to exclude star names in the pursuit of tactical equilibrium.