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Having secured six victories from six matches, an unbreached defense and tournament placement assured before the final rounds, Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel can argue he has chosen wisely throughout qualification.

Nevertheless, in the build-up to Thursday's home game against Serbia, he raised questions when he said that three of the England's elite footballers - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - struggle to perform in the same team.

"At the moment, if we stick with the system, they are unable to feature.

"They might but not in the structure, not preserving harmony that we established and not within the framework that comes also with wingers who are like specialists in their positions. We play at the moment with a six, eight, a 10 and a nine."

From automatic picks to contested places

England's creative talents have been used in wide positions for England in the past, but Tuchel's selections indicate that the Manchester United forward and the Gunners' star are his preferred options on the left and right flank respectively.

So can Bellingham, Foden and Kane operate simultaneously?

Former Three Lions boss certainly thought so.

Bellingham, Foden and Kane started all of England's seven games at Euro 2024 in Germany, where the England team were defeated by Spain in the final.

In the 16 fixtures the trio have played alongside each other, England have secured 10 victories, tied three matches and been defeated three times, scoring 36 times and conceding 14.

Tactical insight: Foden's flexibility provides alternatives

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

The Aston Villa player has been the main number 10 because of his impressive ball progression, shooting ability and ability to attack the box when the number nine withdraws.

Tuchel has discussed favoring natural flank operators. The wide attackers consistently operate in wide areas and can retain the ball skillfully, take their full-back on, and enter the area to finish.

In midfield behind the attackers, Tuchel employs a double pivot consisting of one defensively strict player and one with more license to support offensive play.

So how could Tuchel use these three players?

Foden and Bellingham would be vying against attacking alternatives for the attacking midfield position, with Kane probably featuring up front.

Foden could play as the central striker, which in theory could enable both Bellingham and Foden to operate without the captain.

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

"At Manchester City, he functions as a box-to-box or creative role, so perhaps in coming months we view him as a central midfielder," he said.

Foden has been utilized as a flexible midfielder 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 attacking midfielder and Kane as the nine.

Regardless of if Tuchel decides to set England up like this at the international competition, what seems encouraging is his willingness to leave big players out in the pursuit of tactical equilibrium.