🔗 Share this article

With six wins from six matches, zero goals allowed and World Cup qualification confirmed with matches remaining, national team coach Thomas Tuchel might claim he has made the right selection choices.

Nevertheless, in the lead-up to Thursday's domestic match against Serbia, he initiated discussion when he claimed that three of the England's elite footballers - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - struggle to perform in the equivalent formation.

"Presently, if we maintain the formation, they are unable to feature.

"They can but not in the structure, not for the balance that we created and not in this formation that comes also with wingers who are essentially experts 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 deployed on the flanks for England in the past, but the manager's choices indicate that the Barcelona loanee and Arsenal's winger are his preferred options on the wing positions respectively.

But can Bellingham, Foden and Kane play together?

Gareth Southgate certainly thought so.

Bellingham, Foden and Kane started all of England's seven fixtures 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 alongside each other, England have secured 10 victories, shared points three times and been defeated three times, registering 36 scores and allowing 14 goals.

Analysis: Foden's versatility gives Tuchel options

Tuchel has utilized a 4-2-3-1 formation that changes shape when England attack.

The Aston Villa player has been the main number 10 because of his excellent dribbling, ball-striking and skill in entering the penalty area when the number nine withdraws.

Tuchel has mentioned preferring natural flank operators. The wide attackers play out wide weekly and can retain the ball skillfully, take their full-back on, and appear in scoring positions.

In midfield behind the attackers, Tuchel plays with a midfield two consisting of a disciplined defensive presence and one with more license to support offensive play.

So how could Tuchel use these three players?

Foden and Bellingham would be vying against other creative midfielders for the creative hub, with Kane expected to lead up front.

Foden could feature as the number nine, which potentially could permit both Bellingham and Foden to play at Kane's expense.

There is one way all three could coexist effectively and Tuchel suggested it this week.

"At Manchester City, he functions as a number eight or 10, so perhaps in coming months we view him as a box-to-box player," he said.

Foden has been utilized as a flexible midfielder this season.

That has permitted him to contribute from midfield and could categorize him as the advanced playmaker, alongside a holding midfielder.

This would then enable Bellingham to operate as the creative force and Kane as the striker.

Irrespective of whether Tuchel opts to structure the side like this at the World Cup, what appears positive is his willingness to leave big players out in the name of balance.