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Having secured six victories from six matches, zero goals allowed and tournament placement assured before the final rounds, Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel can argue he has got all of his big qualifying decisions correct.

However, in the lead-up to Thursday's domestic match against Serbia, he sparked a debate when he said that three of the nation's top talents - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - struggle to perform in the equivalent formation.

"At the moment, if we maintain the formation, they cannot play.

"They can but not within this system, not for the balance that we established and not in this formation that also includes wingers who are like specialists in their positions. We play at the moment with specific numbered positions."

From automatic picks to contested places

Foden and Bellingham have been used in wide positions for England in the past, but his team selections suggest that Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka are his preferred options on the left and right flank respectively.

So can Bellingham, Foden and Kane coexist in the lineup?

The previous England manager apparently believed they could.

Bellingham, Foden and Kane started all of England's seven games at last summer's tournament in Germany, where Southgate's side lost to Spain in the final.

In the 16 matches the trio have played simultaneously, England have secured 10 victories, tied three matches and suffered three losses, scoring 36 times and allowing 14 goals.

Strategic view: Versatile Foden offers solutions

Tuchel has employed a four-two-three-one setup that changes shape when England attack.

The Aston Villa player has been the main number 10 because of his impressive ball progression, ball-striking and skill in entering the penalty area when the striker drops deep.

Tuchel has discussed favoring specialist wingers. Saka and Gordon play out wide weekly and can hold the ball well, take their full-back on, and arrive in the box to score.

Supporting the attacking quartet, Tuchel employs a double pivot consisting of one defensively strict player and a partner with attacking liberty to support offensive play.

Potential configurations for England's stars

Foden and Bellingham would be vying against Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers and Eberechi Eze for the number 10 role, with Kane expected to lead up front.

Foden could operate as the main forward, which in theory could allow both Bellingham and Foden to play at Kane's expense.

There is a potential solution all three could play in this system and Tuchel suggested it this week.

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

This would then permit Bellingham to feature as the number 10 and Kane as the striker.

Regardless of if 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 pursuit of tactical equilibrium.