Three Lions' top talents can't fit in the same lineup - is Tuchel right?
Having secured six victories from six matches, an unbreached defense and tournament placement secured with two group games to spare, England manager Thomas Tuchel could suggest he has made the right selection choices.
Yet, in the lead-up to Thursday's domestic match against Serbia, he raised questions when he stated that three of the country's best players - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - are unable to feature in the same team.
"Presently, if we maintain the formation, they are unable to feature.
"They can but not with current tactics, not maintaining equilibrium that we developed and not within the framework that also includes wingers who are essentially experts in their positions. We currently utilize with specific numbered positions."
From automatic picks to contested places
England's creative talents have been utilized out wide for England in the past, but the manager's choices suggest that Marcus Rashford and the Gunners' star are his preferred options on the wide areas respectively.
But can Bellingham, Foden and Kane coexist in the lineup?
Gareth Southgate certainly thought so.
Bellingham, Foden and Kane started all of England's seven matches at last summer's tournament in Germany, where the England team lost to Spain in the final.
In the 16 games the three have featured alongside each other, England have triumphed 10 times, drawn three and been defeated three times, scoring 36 times and conceding 14.
Strategic view: Versatile Foden offers solutions
Tuchel has utilized a 4-2-3-1 formation that transforms formation when England attack.
The Aston Villa player has been the primary attacking midfielder because of his strong ball-carrying, shooting ability and skill in entering the penalty area when the striker drops deep.
Tuchel has mentioned preferring natural flank operators. Saka and Gordon play out wide weekly and can retain the ball skillfully, challenge defenders, and enter the area to finish.
Behind this front four, Tuchel employs a double pivot consisting of one defensively strict player and another with greater freedom to support offensive play.
Potential configurations for England's stars
Foden and Bellingham would be competing with attacking alternatives for the attacking midfield position, with Kane likely to start up front.
Foden could operate as the number nine, which theoretically could permit both Bellingham and Foden to feature instead of Kane.
There is an alternative approach all three could play in this system and Tuchel hinted at it this week.
"For Man City, he plays almost like a central or attacking midfielder, so potentially in future we view him as a box-to-box player," he said.
Foden has been utilized as a flexible midfielder this season.
That has allowed him to take responsibility deeper and could position him as the advanced playmaker, next to a more defensive number six.
This would then enable Bellingham to operate as the number 10 and Kane as the striker.
Regardless of if Tuchel decides to set England up like this at the World Cup, what seems encouraging is his preparedness to omit established stars in the pursuit of tactical equilibrium.