🔗 Share this article Kane, Bellingham and Foden struggle to operate simultaneously - 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 in six games, zero goals allowed and World Cup qualification secured with two group games to spare, Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel might claim 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. "Presently, if we stick with the system, they cannot play. "It's possible but not within this system, not maintaining equilibrium that we created and not within the framework that also includes wingers who are highly specialized in their positions. We currently utilize with specific numbered positions." From guaranteed positions to competitive roles The Manchester City and Real Madrid stars have been utilized out wide for England in the past, but the manager's choices imply that the Manchester United forward and Arsenal's winger are his first choices on the wing positions respectively. So can Bellingham, Foden and Kane operate simultaneously? Gareth Southgate apparently believed they could. Bellingham, Foden and Kane were selected for each England's seven fixtures at last summer's tournament in Germany, where Southgate's side lost to Spain in the final. In the 16 fixtures the trio have played together, England have won 10, drawn three and been defeated three times, scoring 36 times and letting in 14 strikes. Strategic view: Versatile Foden offers solutions Tuchel has employed a four-two-three-one setup that alters structure when England attack. The Aston Villa player has been the main number 10 because of his strong ball-carrying, ball-striking and capacity to penetrate the area when the number nine withdraws. Tuchel has discussed favoring specialist wingers. The wide attackers consistently operate in wide areas and can hold the ball well, engage in one-on-one situations, and enter the area to finish. Behind this front four, Tuchel plays with a midfield two consisting of a holding midfielder and one with more license to join the forward movement. What solutions exist for the trio? Foden and Bellingham would be competing with other creative midfielders for the attacking midfield position, with Kane probably featuring up front. Foden could feature as the central striker, which potentially could allow both Bellingham and Foden to play at Kane's expense. There is one way all three could feature together and Tuchel alluded to it this week. "With his club, he plays almost like a central or attacking midfielder, so potentially in future we consider him as a number eight," 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 categorize him as the advanced playmaker, alongside a holding midfielder. This would then enable Bellingham to operate as the number 10 and Kane as the striker. Regardless of if Tuchel chooses to configure the team like this at the international competition, what seems encouraging is his readiness to exclude star names in the interest of team harmony.