🔗 Share this article England's star trio struggle to operate simultaneously - does the manager have a point? Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden have been essential components for England over the recent half-decade After achieving six consecutive triumphs from six matches, zero goals allowed and a World Cup spot confirmed with matches remaining, national team coach Thomas Tuchel might claim he has chosen wisely throughout qualification. Nevertheless, in the lead-up to Thursday's home game against Serbia, he sparked a debate when he claimed 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 maintain the formation, they cannot play. "It's possible but not within this system, not preserving harmony that we developed and not within the framework that also includes wingers who are highly specialized in their positions. We play at the moment with a six, eight, a 10 and a nine." From certain starters to fighting for spots England's creative talents have been deployed on the flanks for England in the past, but his team selections imply that the Manchester United forward and Bukayo Saka are his preferred options on the wing positions respectively. So can Bellingham, Foden and Kane play together? Former Three Lions boss evidently thought it possible. Bellingham, Foden and Kane started all of England's seven games at Euro 2024 in Germany, where Southgate's side lost to Spain in the final. In the 16 fixtures the three have featured alongside each other, England have won 10, shared points three times and suffered three losses, scoring 36 times and letting in 14 strikes. Strategic view: Versatile Foden offers solutions Tuchel has played a 4-2-3-1 system that transforms formation when England attack. The Aston Villa player has been the primary attacking midfielder because of his excellent dribbling, strike quality and ability to attack the box when the striker drops deep. Tuchel has spoken about preferring natural flank operators. The wide attackers consistently operate in wide areas and can hold the ball well, take their full-back on, and appear in scoring positions. In midfield behind the attackers, Tuchel utilizes two central midfielders consisting of a disciplined defensive presence and another with greater freedom to join the forward movement. So how could Tuchel use these three players? Foden and Bellingham would be battling with other creative midfielders for the creative hub, with Kane expected to lead up front. Foden could play as the number nine, which in theory could enable both Bellingham and Foden to feature instead of Kane. There is one way all three could play in this system and Tuchel suggested it this week. "With his club, he operates similarly to a central or attacking midfielder, so maybe during the next 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 categorize him as the central midfielder, next to a more defensive number six. This would then permit Bellingham to feature as the creative force and Kane as the center forward. Irrespective of whether Tuchel opts to structure the side like this at the international competition, what bodes well is his preparedness to omit established stars in the name of balance.