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After achieving six consecutive triumphs in six games, zero goals allowed and a World Cup spot secured with two group games to spare, England manager Thomas Tuchel can argue he has chosen wisely throughout qualification.

However, in the build-up to Thursday's home game against Serbia, he raised questions when he said that three of the England's elite footballers - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - cannot play in the equivalent formation.

"At the moment, if we stick with the system, they won't fit together.

"They might but not in the structure, not for the balance that we developed and not in this formation that incorporates wingers who are highly specialized in their positions. We currently utilize with specific numbered positions."

From automatic picks to contested places

The Manchester City and Real Madrid stars have been deployed on the flanks for England in the past, but the manager's choices suggest that Marcus Rashford and the Gunners' star are his primary selections on the wide areas respectively.

The question remains whether Bellingham, Foden and Kane operate simultaneously?

The previous England manager apparently believed they could.

Bellingham, Foden and Kane started all of England's seven games at the European Championship in Germany, where the national squad were defeated by Spain in the final.

In the 16 fixtures the stars have performed together, England have triumphed 10 times, tied three matches and been defeated three times, netting 36 goals and letting in 14 strikes.

Tactical insight: Foden's flexibility provides alternatives

Tuchel has employed a four-two-three-one setup that transforms formation when England attack.

The Aston Villa player has been the main number 10 because of his impressive ball progression, shooting ability and capacity to penetrate the area when the striker drops deep.

Tuchel has discussed favoring specialist wingers. Saka and Gordon consistently operate in wide areas and can maintain possession effectively, take their full-back on, and appear in scoring positions.

In midfield behind the attackers, Tuchel plays with a midfield two consisting of a holding midfielder and a partner with attacking liberty to support offensive play.

So how could Tuchel use these three players?

Foden and Bellingham would be vying against attacking alternatives for the number 10 role, with Kane probably featuring up front.

Foden could feature as the number nine, which theoretically could allow 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.

"With his club, he functions as a central or attacking midfielder, so potentially in future 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 position him as the central midfielder, alongside a holding midfielder.

This would then permit Bellingham to feature as the creative force and Kane as the center forward.

Irrespective of whether Tuchel chooses to configure the team like this at the global tournament, what bodes well is his preparedness to omit established stars in the name of balance.