Three Lions' top talents can't fit in the same lineup - is Tuchel right?
Having secured six victories out of six, zero goals allowed and tournament placement secured with two group games to spare, Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel could suggest he has made the right selection choices.
However, in the build-up to Thursday's domestic match against Serbia, he initiated discussion when he claimed that three of the nation's top talents - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - are unable to feature in the equivalent formation.
"Currently, if we maintain the formation, they cannot play.
"It's possible but not with current tactics, not for the balance that we created and not in this formation that also includes wingers who are like specialists 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 Tuchel's selections suggest that Marcus Rashford and Arsenal's winger are his first choices on the wing positions respectively.
But can Bellingham, Foden and Kane coexist in the lineup?
The previous England manager evidently thought it possible.
Bellingham, Foden and Kane started all of England's seven games at last summer's tournament in Germany, where the England team were defeated by Spain in the final.
In the 16 fixtures the three have featured together, England have secured 10 victories, drawn three and suffered three losses, netting 36 goals and conceding 14.
Tactical insight: Foden's flexibility provides alternatives
Tuchel has played a 4-2-3-1 system that alters structure when England attack.
Morgan Rogers has been the key creative force because of his excellent dribbling, ball-striking and skill in entering the penalty 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 appear in scoring positions.
Behind this front four, Tuchel utilizes two central midfielders consisting of a holding midfielder and one with more license to join the forward movement.
Potential configurations for England's stars
Foden and Bellingham would be competing with Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers and Eberechi Eze for the number 10 role, with Kane probably featuring up front.
Foden could play as the central striker, which theoretically could allow both Bellingham and Foden to operate without the captain.
There is one way all three could feature together and Tuchel alluded to it this week.
"At Manchester City, he operates similarly to a box-to-box or creative role, so potentially in future we consider him as a central midfielder," he said.
Foden has been deployed in a versatile central position 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 allow Bellingham to play as the creative force and Kane as the nine.
Irrespective of whether Tuchel decides to set England up like this at the international competition, what seems encouraging is his readiness to exclude star names in the pursuit of tactical equilibrium.
