🔗 Share this article Kane, Bellingham and Foden can't fit in the same lineup - is Tuchel right? Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden have been key players for England over the recent half-decade 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 made the right selection choices. Nevertheless, in the preparation for Thursday's home game against Serbia, he initiated discussion when he claimed that three of the nation's top talents - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - cannot play in the equivalent formation. "At the moment, if we maintain the formation, they are unable to feature. "They can but not within this system, not maintaining equilibrium that we created and not for the structure that comes also with wingers who are like specialists in their positions. We currently utilize with specific numbered positions." From guaranteed positions to competitive roles 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 Arsenal's winger are his first choices on the left and right flank respectively. But can Bellingham, Foden and Kane operate simultaneously? 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 Southgate's side were defeated by Spain in the final. In the 16 fixtures the three have featured together, England have triumphed 10 times, shared points three times and lost three, netting 36 goals and letting in 14 strikes. Tactical insight: Foden's flexibility provides alternatives Tuchel has played a 4-2-3-1 system that transforms formation when England attack. Morgan Rogers has been the key creative force because of his impressive ball progression, strike quality and skill in entering the penalty area when the number nine withdraws. Tuchel has spoken about preferring natural flank operators. The wide attackers regularly feature on the wings and can retain the ball skillfully, engage in one-on-one situations, and arrive in the box to score. Behind this front four, Tuchel plays with a midfield two consisting of a holding midfielder and a partner with attacking liberty to contribute to the attack. Potential configurations for England's stars Foden and Bellingham would be vying against other creative midfielders for the attacking midfield position, with Kane probably featuring up front. Foden could feature as the number nine, which theoretically could permit both Bellingham and Foden to operate without the captain. There is one way all three could play in this system and Tuchel alluded to it this week. "For Man City, he operates similarly to a central or attacking midfielder, so potentially in future we view him as a box-to-box player," he said. Foden has been used in a more all-purpose midfield role this season. That has enabled him to operate from deeper areas and could categorize him as the advanced playmaker, next to a more defensive number six. This would then enable Bellingham to operate as the attacking midfielder and Kane as the striker. Regardless of if Tuchel opts to structure the side like this at the World Cup, what bodes well is his willingness to leave big players out in the pursuit of tactical equilibrium.