England's star trio can't play together - what's the verdict?

With six wins in six games, no goals conceded and World Cup qualification assured before the final rounds, national team coach Thomas Tuchel could suggest he has made the right selection choices.

Yet, in the preparation for Thursday's domestic match against Serbia, he sparked a debate when he said that three of the country's best players - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - cannot play in the equivalent formation.

"At the moment, if we keep the structure, they won't fit together.

"It's possible but not within this system, not preserving harmony that we established and not in this formation that comes also with wingers who are like specialists in their positions. We currently utilize with specific numbered positions."

From automatic picks to contested places

Foden and Bellingham have been utilized out wide for England in the past, but the manager's choices indicate that Marcus Rashford and the Gunners' star are his primary selections on the wide areas respectively.

But can Bellingham, Foden and Kane play together?

The previous England manager evidently thought it possible.

Bellingham, Foden and Kane featured in every England's seven fixtures at the European Championship in Germany, where the national squad lost to Spain in the final.

In the 16 matches the stars have performed simultaneously, England have won 10, shared points three times and been defeated three times, registering 36 scores and conceding 14.

Strategic view: Versatile Foden offers solutions

Tuchel has played a 4-2-3-1 system that transforms formation when England attack.

Morgan Rogers has been the key creative force because of his impressive ball progression, ball-striking and skill in entering the penalty area when the striker drops deep.

Tuchel has mentioned preferring specialist wingers. The wide attackers consistently operate in wide areas and can retain the ball skillfully, challenge defenders, and enter the area to finish.

Supporting the attacking quartet, Tuchel employs a double pivot 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 Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers and Eberechi Eze for the creative hub, with Kane probably featuring up front.

Foden could play as the central striker, which in theory could allow 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.

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

Foden has been deployed in a versatile central position this season.

That has permitted him to contribute from midfield and could categorize him as the advanced playmaker, next to a more defensive number six.

This would then permit Bellingham to feature as the number 10 and Kane as the center forward.

Irrespective of whether Tuchel decides to set England up like this at the international competition, what bodes well is his willingness to leave big players out in the interest of team harmony.