England's star trio are unable to fit in the same lineup - does the manager have a point?
After achieving six consecutive triumphs in six games, zero goals allowed and tournament placement secured with two group games to spare, national team coach Thomas Tuchel can argue he has made the right selection choices.
Yet, in the preparation for Thursday's home game against Serbia, he sparked a debate when he said that three of the nation's top talents - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - are unable to feature in the same team.
"Currently, if we keep the structure, they cannot play.
"They can but not in the structure, not for the balance that we developed and not for the structure that also includes wingers who are like specialists in their positions. We presently employ with a six, eight, a 10 and a nine."
From automatic picks to contested places
England's creative talents have been deployed on the flanks for England in the past, but the manager's choices suggest that the Barcelona loanee and Bukayo Saka are his first choices on the left and right flank respectively.
But can Bellingham, Foden and Kane coexist in the lineup?
The previous England manager apparently believed they could.
Bellingham, Foden and Kane featured in every England's seven matches at Euro 2024 in Germany, where the national squad fell to the Spanish in the final.
In the 16 games the three have featured alongside each other, England have secured 10 victories, tied three matches and lost three, netting 36 goals and letting in 14 strikes.
Strategic view: Versatile Foden offers solutions
Tuchel has played a 4-2-3-1 system that alters structure when England attack.
Morgan Rogers has been the main number 10 because of his excellent dribbling, shooting ability and ability to attack the box when the forward retreats.
Tuchel has mentioned preferring dedicated wide players. The wide attackers consistently operate in wide areas and can hold the ball well, take their full-back on, and enter the area to finish.
In midfield behind the attackers, Tuchel plays with a midfield two consisting of a holding midfielder and one with more license to join the forward movement.
Potential configurations for England's stars
Foden and Bellingham would be battling with Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers and Eberechi Eze for the attacking midfield position, with Kane expected to lead up front.
Foden could play 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 feature together and Tuchel hinted at it this week.
"With his club, he operates similarly to a box-to-box or creative role, so perhaps in coming months we consider 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 make him an option as the number eight, next to a more defensive number six.
This would then enable Bellingham to operate as the attacking midfielder and Kane as the center forward.
Regardless of if Tuchel decides to set England up like this at the international competition, what appears positive is his readiness to exclude star names in the pursuit of tactical equilibrium.