🔗 Share this article England's star trio struggle to play together - does the manager have a point? Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden have been crucial figures for England over the recent half-decade Having secured six victories in six games, no goals conceded and a World Cup spot assured before the final rounds, Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel could suggest he has made the right selection choices. Yet, in the build-up to Thursday's Wembley encounter against Serbia, he initiated discussion when he stated that three of the England's elite footballers - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - are unable to feature in the same team. "At the moment, if we maintain the formation, they cannot play. "They might but not in the structure, not maintaining equilibrium that we developed and not within the framework that also includes wingers who are essentially experts in their positions. We presently employ with defensive, central, attacking midfielders and striker." From certain starters to fighting for spots Foden and Bellingham have been deployed on the flanks for England in the past, but his team selections suggest that the Barcelona loanee and the Gunners' star are his preferred options on the left and right flank respectively. So can Bellingham, Foden and Kane play together? The previous England manager apparently believed they could. Bellingham, Foden and Kane were selected for each England's seven games at the European Championship in Germany, where the national squad lost to Spain in the final. In the 16 games the stars have performed simultaneously, England have won 10, tied three matches and lost three, registering 36 scores and conceding 14. Analysis: Foden's versatility gives Tuchel options Tuchel has utilized a 4-2-3-1 formation that changes shape when England attack. Morgan Rogers has been the primary attacking midfielder because of his excellent dribbling, strike quality and ability to attack the box when the number nine withdraws. Tuchel has mentioned preferring natural flank operators. The Arsenal and Newcastle stars play out wide weekly and can retain the ball skillfully, take their full-back on, and appear in scoring positions. Behind this front four, Tuchel employs a double pivot consisting of a holding midfielder and a partner with attacking liberty to join the forward movement. So how could Tuchel use these three players? Foden and Bellingham would be competing with attacking alternatives for the creative hub, with Kane expected to lead up front. Foden could feature as the number nine, which in theory could allow both Bellingham and Foden to operate without the captain. There is a potential solution all three could coexist effectively and Tuchel hinted at it this week. "At Manchester City, he functions as a number eight or 10, so maybe during the next months we consider him as a central midfielder," 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 number eight, paired with a defensive anchor. This would then enable Bellingham to operate as the creative force and Kane as the center forward. Irrespective of whether Tuchel chooses to configure the team like this at the international competition, what bodes well is his willingness to leave big players out in the pursuit of tactical equilibrium.