Three Lions' top talents struggle to fit in the same lineup - what's the verdict?

After achieving six consecutive triumphs in six games, zero goals allowed and tournament placement confirmed with matches remaining, England manager Thomas Tuchel could suggest he has chosen wisely throughout qualification.

However, in the lead-up to Thursday's domestic match against Serbia, he sparked a debate when he said that three of the England's elite footballers - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - are unable to feature in the same team.

"Currently, if we maintain the formation, they won't fit together.

"It's possible but not within this system, not for the balance that we established and not for the structure that incorporates 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

The Manchester City and Real Madrid stars have been deployed on the flanks for England in the past, but his team selections indicate that Marcus Rashford and Arsenal's winger are his first choices on the wide areas respectively.

So can Bellingham, Foden and Kane play together?

The previous England manager apparently believed they could.

Bellingham, Foden and Kane were selected for each England's seven matches at the European Championship in Germany, where the national squad fell to the Spanish in the final.

In the 16 matches the stars have performed alongside each other, England have triumphed 10 times, shared points three times and lost three, registering 36 scores and allowing 14 goals.

Tactical insight: Foden's flexibility provides alternatives

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

The young midfielder has been the main number 10 because of his impressive ball progression, ball-striking and capacity to penetrate the area when the forward retreats.

Tuchel has discussed favoring specialist wingers. The wide attackers play out wide weekly and can maintain possession effectively, engage in one-on-one situations, and arrive in the box to score.

Behind this front four, Tuchel utilizes two central midfielders consisting of one defensively strict player and a partner with attacking liberty to contribute to the attack.

So how could Tuchel use these three players?

Foden and Bellingham would be competing with other creative midfielders for the number 10 role, with Kane likely to start up front.

Foden could operate as the central striker, which in theory could permit both Bellingham and Foden to operate without the captain.

There is a potential solution all three could coexist effectively and Tuchel alluded to it this week.

"At Manchester City, he operates similarly to a box-to-box or creative role, so maybe during the next months we regard him as a central midfielder," he said.

Foden has been utilized as a flexible midfielder this season.

That has enabled him to operate from deeper areas and could categorize him as the number eight, alongside a holding midfielder.

This would then allow Bellingham to play as the attacking midfielder and Kane as the striker.

Regardless of if Tuchel opts to structure the side like this at the global tournament, what appears positive is his readiness to exclude star names in the name of balance.