Kane, Bellingham and Foden struggle to operate simultaneously - does the manager have a point?
Having secured six victories from six matches, zero goals allowed and a World Cup spot assured before the final rounds, national team coach Thomas Tuchel might claim he has made the right selection choices.
Yet, in the lead-up to Thursday's domestic match against Serbia, he initiated discussion when he stated that three of the England's elite footballers - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - struggle to perform in the identical lineup.
"Presently, if we keep the structure, they won't fit together.
"It's possible but not within this system, not for the balance that we developed and not for the structure that comes also with wingers who are like specialists in their positions. We presently employ with a six, eight, a 10 and a nine."
From automatic picks to contested places
Foden and Bellingham have been utilized out wide for England in the past, but his team selections imply that the Manchester United forward and the Gunners' star are his first choices on the left and right flank respectively.
The question remains whether 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 matches at last summer's tournament in Germany, where Southgate's side lost to Spain in the final.
In the 16 fixtures the stars have performed simultaneously, England have secured 10 victories, tied three matches and lost three, scoring 36 times and letting in 14 strikes.
Tactical insight: Foden's flexibility provides alternatives
Tuchel has employed a four-two-three-one setup that alters structure when England attack.
The young midfielder has been the main number 10 because of his excellent dribbling, ball-striking and capacity to penetrate the area when the forward retreats.
Tuchel has spoken about preferring natural flank operators. Saka and Gordon regularly feature on the wings and can maintain possession effectively, engage in one-on-one situations, and arrive in the box to score.
Behind this front four, Tuchel plays with a midfield two consisting of a disciplined defensive presence and another with greater freedom to contribute to the attack.
Potential configurations for England's stars
Foden and Bellingham would be battling with attacking alternatives for the number 10 role, with Kane likely to start up front.
Foden could play as the main forward, which in theory could permit both Bellingham and Foden to play at Kane's expense.
There is an alternative approach all three could coexist effectively and Tuchel suggested it this week.
"For Man City, he functions as a box-to-box or creative role, so maybe during the next months we view him as a number eight," he said.
Foden has been deployed in a versatile central position this season.
That has allowed him to take responsibility deeper and could categorize him as the central midfielder, alongside a holding midfielder.
This would then allow Bellingham to play as the attacking midfielder and Kane as the center forward.
No matter whether Tuchel decides to set England up like this at the international competition, what appears positive is his readiness to exclude star names in the interest of team harmony.
