🔗 Share this article England's star trio struggle to fit in the same lineup - is Tuchel right? Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden have been crucial figures for England over the past five years With six wins out of six, no goals conceded and World Cup qualification confirmed with matches remaining, Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel can argue he has got all of his big qualifying decisions correct. However, in the preparation for Thursday's domestic match against Serbia, he raised questions 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. "At the moment, if we maintain the formation, they are unable to feature. "They might but not with current tactics, not for the balance that we established and not in this formation that comes also with wingers who are essentially experts in their positions. We presently employ with defensive, central, attacking midfielders and striker." From certain starters to fighting for spots The Manchester City and Real Madrid stars have been utilized out wide for England in the past, but his team selections imply that the Barcelona loanee and the Gunners' star are his primary selections on the wing positions respectively. So 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 games at the European Championship in Germany, where the England team were defeated by Spain in the final. In the 16 matches the trio have played together, England have triumphed 10 times, shared points three times and suffered three losses, registering 36 scores and allowing 14 goals. Tactical insight: Foden's flexibility provides alternatives Tuchel has employed a four-two-three-one setup that changes shape when England attack. The young midfielder has been the primary attacking midfielder because of his strong ball-carrying, ball-striking and skill in entering the penalty area when the number nine withdraws. Tuchel has spoken about preferring specialist wingers. The wide attackers play out wide weekly and can retain the ball skillfully, challenge defenders, and appear in scoring positions. Supporting the attacking quartet, Tuchel plays with a midfield two consisting of a holding midfielder and another with greater freedom to contribute to the attack. So how could Tuchel use these three players? Foden and Bellingham would be competing with attacking alternatives for the number 10 role, with Kane likely to start up front. Foden could operate as the main forward, which theoretically could allow both Bellingham and Foden to operate without the captain. There is an alternative approach all three could feature together and Tuchel suggested it this week. "For Man City, he plays almost like a number eight or 10, so maybe during the next months we view him as a number eight," 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 advanced playmaker, next to a more defensive number six. This would then permit Bellingham to feature as the creative force and Kane as the nine. No matter whether Tuchel opts to structure the side like this at the World Cup, what appears positive is his readiness to exclude star names in the pursuit of tactical equilibrium.