Three Lions' top talents are unable to fit in the same lineup - what's the verdict?

England football stars
Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden have been key players for England over the past five years

With six wins out of six, no goals conceded and a World Cup spot secured with two group games to spare, England manager Thomas Tuchel can argue he has made the right selection choices.

Nevertheless, in the build-up to Thursday's home game against Serbia, he raised questions when he said that three of the country's best players - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - are unable to feature in the same team.

"Presently, if we maintain the formation, they are unable to feature.
"They can but not within this system, not maintaining equilibrium that we created and not in this formation that incorporates wingers who are highly specialized 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 utilized out wide for England in the past, but Tuchel's selections indicate that Marcus Rashford and Arsenal's winger are his primary selections on the wing positions respectively.

The question remains whether Bellingham, Foden and Kane coexist in the lineup?

Gareth Southgate apparently believed they could.

Bellingham, Foden and Kane featured in every England's seven games at the European Championship in Germany, where the England team were defeated by Spain in the final.

In the 16 fixtures the trio have played together, England have triumphed 10 times, tied three matches and lost three, netting 36 goals and letting in 14 strikes.

Strategic view: Versatile Foden offers solutions

Tuchel has played a 4-2-3-1 system that alters structure when England attack.

The Aston Villa player has been the primary attacking midfielder because of his impressive ball progression, strike quality and ability to attack the box when the striker drops deep.

Tuchel has mentioned preferring natural flank operators. The wide attackers regularly feature on the wings and can retain the ball skillfully, 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 a partner with attacking liberty to contribute to the attack.

So how could Tuchel use these three players?

Foden and Bellingham would be competing with other creative midfielders for the number 10 role, with Kane expected to lead up front.

Foden could play as the main forward, which in theory could allow both Bellingham and Foden to operate without the captain.

There is one way all three could play in this system and Tuchel hinted at it this week.

"At Manchester City, he operates similarly to a central or attacking midfielder, so maybe during the next months we consider 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 number eight, alongside a holding midfielder.

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

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 name of balance.

Christopher Stanton
Christopher Stanton

Eleanor Whitmore is a luxury travel writer based in London, exploring the city's finest offerings.