🔗 Share this article Three Lions' top talents can't play together - does the manager have a point? Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden have been key players for England over the recent half-decade After achieving six consecutive triumphs from six matches, no goals conceded and World Cup qualification secured with two group games to spare, England manager Thomas Tuchel could suggest he has chosen wisely throughout qualification. Yet, in the preparation for Thursday's Wembley encounter against Serbia, he initiated discussion when he stated that three of the nation's top talents - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - cannot play in the identical lineup. "Currently, if we stick with the system, they won't fit together. "They might but not with current tactics, not preserving harmony that we developed and not for the structure that comes also with wingers who are like specialists in their positions. We presently employ 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 the manager's choices imply that the Manchester United forward and Arsenal's winger are his primary selections on the wing positions respectively. The question remains whether Bellingham, Foden and Kane coexist in the lineup? Former Three Lions boss evidently thought it possible. Bellingham, Foden and Kane featured in every England's seven games at the European Championship in Germany, where Southgate's side lost to Spain in the final. In the 16 games the stars have performed alongside each other, England have triumphed 10 times, tied three matches and lost three, registering 36 scores and conceding 14. Strategic view: Versatile Foden offers solutions Tuchel has utilized a 4-2-3-1 formation that transforms formation when England attack. Morgan Rogers has been the key creative force because of his strong ball-carrying, shooting ability and capacity to penetrate the area when the forward retreats. Tuchel has spoken about preferring natural flank operators. The Arsenal and Newcastle stars play out wide weekly and can hold the ball well, engage in one-on-one situations, and arrive in the box to score. Supporting the attacking quartet, Tuchel plays with a midfield two consisting of a disciplined defensive presence and one with more license to join the forward movement. So how could Tuchel use these three players? Foden and Bellingham would be competing with Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers and Eberechi Eze for the attacking midfield position, with Kane probably featuring up front. Foden could feature as the number nine, which potentially could permit both Bellingham and Foden to play at Kane's expense. There is an alternative approach all three could play in this system and Tuchel alluded to it this week. "With his club, he functions as a number eight or 10, so perhaps in coming months we regard him as a number eight," he said. Foden has been utilized as a flexible midfielder this season. That has enabled him to operate from deeper areas and could position him as the advanced playmaker, paired with a defensive anchor. This would then enable Bellingham to operate as the attacking midfielder and Kane as the center forward. Irrespective of whether Tuchel decides to set England up like this at the global tournament, what bodes well is his willingness to leave big players out in the name of balance.