Three Lions' top talents can't play together - does the manager have a point?
After achieving six consecutive triumphs out of six, zero goals allowed and a World Cup spot assured before the final rounds, national team coach Thomas Tuchel can argue he has chosen wisely throughout qualification.
Yet, in the lead-up to Thursday's Wembley encounter against Serbia, he initiated discussion when he claimed that three of the country's best players - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - cannot play in the identical lineup.
"Presently, if we maintain the formation, they won't fit together.
"They can but not with current tactics, not preserving harmony that we established and not in this formation that incorporates wingers who are like specialists in their positions. We play at the moment with specific numbered positions."
From guaranteed positions to competitive roles
England's creative talents have been deployed on the flanks for England in the past, but Tuchel's selections imply that the Barcelona loanee and the Gunners' star are his primary selections on the wide areas respectively.
The question remains whether Bellingham, Foden and Kane operate simultaneously?
Gareth Southgate certainly thought so.
Bellingham, Foden and Kane were selected for each England's seven matches at last summer's tournament in Germany, where Southgate's side fell to the Spanish in the final.
In the 16 fixtures the stars have performed simultaneously, England have triumphed 10 times, drawn three and been defeated three times, registering 36 scores and allowing 14 goals.
Tactical insight: Foden's flexibility provides alternatives
Tuchel has played a 4-2-3-1 system that changes shape when England attack.
The young midfielder has been the main number 10 because of his impressive ball progression, strike quality and skill in entering the penalty area when the striker drops deep.
Tuchel has mentioned preferring specialist wingers. Saka and Gordon play out wide weekly 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 another with greater freedom to join the forward movement.
Potential configurations for England's stars
Foden and Bellingham would be competing with other creative midfielders for the attacking midfield position, with Kane likely to start up front.
Foden could play as the main forward, which potentially could permit both Bellingham and Foden to feature instead of Kane.
There is a potential solution all three could feature together and Tuchel suggested it this week.
"For Man 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 allowed him to take responsibility deeper and could position him as the advanced playmaker, paired with a defensive anchor.
This would then allow Bellingham to play as the attacking midfielder and Kane as the nine.
No matter whether Tuchel decides to set England up like this at the global tournament, what seems encouraging is his preparedness to omit established stars in the interest of team harmony.