🔗 Share this article Kane, Bellingham and Foden are unable to operate simultaneously - is Tuchel right? Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden have been key players for England over the past five years After achieving six consecutive triumphs out of six, zero goals allowed and World Cup qualification secured with two group games to spare, Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel can argue he has got all of his big qualifying decisions correct. However, in the preparation for Thursday's domestic match against Serbia, he raised questions when he claimed that three of the England's elite footballers - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - cannot play in the identical lineup. "At the moment, if we keep the structure, they are unable to feature. "It's possible but not within this system, not preserving harmony that we developed and not for the structure that incorporates wingers who are like specialists in their positions. We presently employ with specific numbered positions." From certain starters to fighting for spots The Manchester City and Real Madrid stars have been deployed on the flanks for England in the past, but Tuchel's selections suggest that the Manchester United forward and Bukayo Saka are his first choices on the wide areas respectively. But can Bellingham, Foden and Kane operate simultaneously? Former Three Lions boss certainly thought so. Bellingham, Foden and Kane featured in every England's seven matches at the European Championship in Germany, where Southgate's side fell to the Spanish in the final. In the 16 matches the three have featured alongside each other, England have secured 10 victories, shared points three times 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 transforms formation when England attack. Morgan Rogers has been the primary attacking midfielder 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. The wide attackers consistently operate in wide areas and can hold the ball well, take their full-back on, and appear in scoring positions. In midfield behind the attackers, Tuchel plays with a midfield two consisting of one defensively strict player and another with greater freedom to contribute to the attack. Potential configurations for England's stars Foden and Bellingham would be competing with attacking alternatives for the attacking midfield position, with Kane probably featuring up front. Foden could operate as the main forward, which in theory could permit both Bellingham and Foden to play at Kane's expense. There is one way all three could feature together and Tuchel alluded to it this week. "With his club, he plays almost like a central or attacking midfielder, so perhaps in coming months we consider him as a box-to-box player," he said. Foden has been utilized as a flexible midfielder this season. That has permitted him to contribute from midfield and could make him an option as the central midfielder, next to a more defensive number six. This would then permit Bellingham to feature as the number 10 and Kane as the striker. No matter whether Tuchel decides to set England up like this at the global tournament, what bodes well is his preparedness to omit established stars in the interest of team harmony.