🔗 Share this article Kane, Bellingham and Foden struggle to play together - is Tuchel right? Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden have been key players for England over the last five seasons Having secured six victories out of six, no goals conceded and a World Cup spot secured with two group games to spare, Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel can argue he has chosen wisely throughout qualification. Nevertheless, in the lead-up to Thursday's domestic match against Serbia, he sparked a debate when he stated that three of the country's best players - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - are unable to feature in the equivalent formation. "Currently, if we keep the structure, they won't fit together. "They might but not within this system, not preserving harmony that we established and not in this formation that comes also with wingers who are highly specialized in their positions. We play at the moment with specific numbered positions." From automatic picks to contested places England's creative talents have been utilized out wide for England in the past, but Tuchel's selections suggest that Marcus Rashford and the Gunners' star are his first choices on the wing positions respectively. The question remains whether Bellingham, Foden and Kane operate simultaneously? The previous England manager evidently thought it possible. Bellingham, Foden and Kane were selected for each England's seven games at last summer's tournament in Germany, where Southgate's side fell to the Spanish in the final. In the 16 matches the three have featured together, England have secured 10 victories, tied three matches and been defeated three times, scoring 36 times and conceding 14. Analysis: Foden's versatility gives Tuchel options Tuchel has utilized a 4-2-3-1 formation that alters structure when England attack. The young midfielder has been the main number 10 because of his impressive ball progression, shooting ability and capacity to penetrate the area when the forward retreats. Tuchel has mentioned preferring dedicated wide players. The wide attackers regularly feature on the wings and can retain the ball skillfully, take their full-back on, and appear in scoring positions. Behind this front four, Tuchel plays with a midfield two consisting of a disciplined defensive presence and another with greater freedom to support offensive play. Potential configurations for England's stars Foden and Bellingham would be battling with other creative midfielders for the number 10 role, with Kane expected to lead up front. Foden could operate as the main forward, which theoretically could allow both Bellingham and Foden to feature instead of Kane. There is one way all three could play in this system and Tuchel alluded to it this week. "With his club, he functions as a central or attacking midfielder, so potentially in future we consider him as a number eight," he said. Foden has been used in a more all-purpose midfield role this season. That has permitted him to contribute from midfield and could position him as the advanced playmaker, paired with a defensive anchor. This would then enable Bellingham to operate as the creative force and Kane as the striker. No matter whether Tuchel decides to set England up like this at the global tournament, what bodes well is his preparedness to omit established stars in the pursuit of tactical equilibrium.