🔗 Share this article Kane, Bellingham and Foden can't play together - is Tuchel right? Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden have been crucial figures for England over the last five seasons Having secured six victories in six games, an unbreached defense and World Cup qualification assured before the final rounds, Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel can argue he has chosen wisely throughout qualification. Yet, in the preparation for Thursday's domestic match against Serbia, he sparked a debate when he claimed that three of the country's best players - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - cannot play in the equivalent formation. "Presently, if we maintain the formation, they won't fit together. "They might but not with current tactics, not for the balance that we established and not within the framework that incorporates wingers who are highly specialized in their positions. We currently utilize with specific numbered positions." From automatic picks to contested places England's creative talents have been used in wide positions for England in the past, but the manager's choices imply that Marcus Rashford and the Gunners' star are his first choices on the left and right flank respectively. The question remains whether Bellingham, Foden and Kane play together? The previous England manager apparently believed they could. 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 fixtures the stars have performed together, England have won 10, drawn three and lost three, netting 36 goals and letting in 14 strikes. Strategic view: Versatile Foden offers solutions Tuchel has employed a four-two-three-one setup that transforms formation when England attack. Morgan Rogers has been the key creative force because of his excellent dribbling, strike quality and skill in entering the penalty area when the striker drops deep. Tuchel has discussed favoring natural flank operators. Saka and Gordon play out wide weekly and can retain the ball skillfully, engage in one-on-one situations, and enter the area to finish. In midfield behind the attackers, Tuchel utilizes two central midfielders consisting of a holding midfielder and one with more license to join the forward movement. What solutions exist for the trio? Foden and Bellingham would be vying against attacking alternatives for the number 10 role, with Kane probably featuring up front. Foden could play as the central striker, which theoretically could enable both Bellingham and Foden to feature instead of Kane. There is one way all three could coexist effectively and Tuchel hinted at it this week. "With his club, he operates similarly to a central or attacking midfielder, so perhaps in coming months we regard him as a box-to-box player," he said. Foden has been used in a more all-purpose midfield role this season. That has allowed him to take responsibility deeper and could make him an option as the advanced playmaker, next to a more defensive number six. This would then enable Bellingham to operate as the number 10 and Kane as the center forward. Regardless of if Tuchel decides to set England up like this at the international competition, what seems encouraging is his preparedness to omit established stars in the name of balance.