Kane, Bellingham and Foden can't play together - does the manager have a point?
Having secured six victories out of six, an unbreached defense and a World Cup spot assured before the final rounds, national team coach Thomas Tuchel could suggest he has got all of his big qualifying decisions correct.
Nevertheless, in the build-up to Thursday's domestic match against Serbia, he raised questions when he said that three of the nation's top talents - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - cannot play in the same team.
"Currently, if we keep the structure, they cannot play.
"They can but not within this system, not preserving harmony that we developed and not within the framework that incorporates wingers who are essentially experts in their positions. We presently employ with specific numbered positions."
From automatic picks to contested places
The Manchester City and Real Madrid stars have been utilized out wide for England in the past, but Tuchel's selections suggest that the Barcelona loanee and Arsenal's winger are his first choices on the wing positions respectively.
But can Bellingham, Foden and Kane coexist in the lineup?
The previous England manager certainly thought so.
Bellingham, Foden and Kane featured in every England's seven games at Euro 2024 in Germany, where the national squad lost to Spain in the final.
In the 16 matches the three have featured simultaneously, England have won 10, drawn three and been defeated three times, netting 36 goals and allowing 14 goals.
Tactical insight: Foden's flexibility provides alternatives
Tuchel has played a 4-2-3-1 system that changes shape when England attack.
The young midfielder has been the main number 10 because of his strong ball-carrying, shooting ability and capacity to penetrate the area when the striker drops deep.
Tuchel has discussed favoring natural flank operators. The Arsenal and Newcastle stars play out wide weekly and can hold the ball well, challenge defenders, and arrive in the box to score.
In midfield behind the attackers, Tuchel plays with a midfield two consisting of a disciplined defensive presence and a partner with attacking liberty to join the forward movement.
What solutions exist for the trio?
Foden and Bellingham would be competing with attacking alternatives for the creative hub, with Kane probably featuring up front.
Foden could operate as the main forward, which in theory could allow both Bellingham and Foden to feature instead of Kane.
There is an alternative approach all three could feature together and Tuchel suggested it this week.
"With his club, he operates similarly to a central or attacking midfielder, so potentially in future we view him as a number eight," he said.
Foden has been deployed in a versatile central position this season.
That has permitted him to contribute from midfield and could position him as the advanced playmaker, next to a more defensive number six.
This would then allow Bellingham to play as the number 10 and Kane as the center forward.
Irrespective of whether Tuchel chooses to configure the team like this at the World Cup, what appears positive is his willingness to leave big players out in the pursuit of tactical equilibrium.