🔗 Share this article England's star trio struggle to fit in the same lineup - does the manager have a point? Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden have been crucial figures for England over the past five years After achieving six consecutive triumphs in six games, zero goals allowed and tournament placement confirmed with matches remaining, England manager Thomas Tuchel can argue he has got all of his big qualifying decisions correct. However, in the lead-up to Thursday's Wembley encounter against Serbia, he sparked a debate when he claimed that three of the nation's top talents - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - cannot play in the equivalent formation. "Presently, if we maintain the formation, they are unable to feature. "They can but not within this system, not maintaining equilibrium that we developed and not for the structure that incorporates wingers who are essentially experts in their positions. We currently utilize with defensive, central, attacking midfielders and striker." From certain starters to fighting for spots The Manchester City and Real Madrid stars have been deployed on the flanks for England in the past, but the manager's choices suggest that the Barcelona loanee and Bukayo Saka are his first choices on the wide areas respectively. But can Bellingham, Foden and Kane operate simultaneously? Former Three Lions boss apparently believed they could. Bellingham, Foden and Kane were selected for each England's seven matches at last summer's tournament in Germany, where Southgate's side were defeated by Spain in the final. In the 16 matches the three have featured alongside each other, England have triumphed 10 times, shared points three times and suffered three losses, registering 36 scores 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 key creative force because of his excellent dribbling, shooting ability and skill in entering the penalty area when the forward retreats. Tuchel has mentioned preferring natural flank operators. Saka and Gordon play out wide weekly and can maintain possession effectively, challenge defenders, and appear in scoring positions. Supporting the attacking quartet, Tuchel plays with a midfield two consisting of one defensively strict player and a partner with attacking liberty to contribute to the attack. Potential configurations for England's stars Foden and Bellingham would be competing with attacking alternatives for the creative hub, with Kane likely to start up front. Foden could feature as the number nine, which potentially could permit both Bellingham and Foden to play at Kane's expense. There is an alternative approach all three could play in this system and Tuchel alluded to it this week. "For Man City, he operates similarly to a box-to-box or creative role, so potentially in future we view him as a central midfielder," 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 make him an option as the number eight, next to a more defensive number six. This would then enable Bellingham to operate as the attacking midfielder and Kane as the striker. Irrespective of whether Tuchel opts to structure the side like this at the global tournament, what seems encouraging is his readiness to exclude star names in the pursuit of tactical equilibrium.