🔗 Share this article Kane, Bellingham and Foden are unable to fit in the same lineup - is Tuchel right? Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden have been essential components for England over the recent half-decade Having secured six victories from six matches, no goals conceded and tournament placement confirmed with matches remaining, England manager Thomas Tuchel might claim he has got all of his big qualifying decisions correct. However, in the build-up to 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 - struggle to perform in the identical lineup. "Presently, if we stick with the system, they cannot play. "They might but not in the structure, not maintaining equilibrium that we developed and not within the framework that incorporates wingers who are essentially experts in their positions. We currently utilize with specific numbered positions." From automatic picks to contested places Foden and Bellingham have been utilized out wide for England in the past, but the manager's choices suggest that the Barcelona loanee and the Gunners' star are his primary selections on the wing positions respectively. So can Bellingham, Foden and Kane operate simultaneously? Gareth Southgate evidently thought it possible. Bellingham, Foden and Kane featured in every England's seven matches at Euro 2024 in Germany, where the England team were defeated by Spain in the final. In the 16 matches the trio have played alongside each other, England have won 10, shared points three times and been defeated three times, scoring 36 times and conceding 14. Analysis: Foden's versatility gives Tuchel options 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 strong ball-carrying, ball-striking and skill in entering the penalty area when the striker drops deep. Tuchel has discussed favoring dedicated wide players. The Arsenal and Newcastle stars regularly feature on the wings and can retain the ball skillfully, take their full-back on, and arrive in the box to score. In midfield behind the attackers, Tuchel employs a double pivot consisting of one defensively strict player and a partner with attacking liberty to contribute to the attack. Potential configurations for England's stars Foden and Bellingham would be competing with other creative midfielders for the creative hub, with Kane probably featuring up front. Foden could feature as the central striker, which in theory could allow both Bellingham and Foden to operate without the captain. There is one way all three could feature together and Tuchel suggested it this week. "For Man City, he operates similarly to a central or attacking midfielder, so perhaps in coming months we regard him as a number eight," he said. Foden has been deployed in a versatile central position this season. That has enabled him to operate from deeper areas and could position him as the central midfielder, paired with a defensive anchor. This would then enable Bellingham to operate as the attacking midfielder and Kane as the striker. Regardless of if Tuchel chooses to configure the team like this at the World Cup, what seems encouraging is his readiness to exclude star names in the interest of team harmony.