🔗 Share this article England's star trio struggle to fit in the same lineup - is Tuchel right? Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden have been essential components for England over the recent half-decade With six wins out of six, an unbreached defense and a World Cup spot secured with two group games to spare, Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel might claim he has made the right selection choices. However, in the build-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 - struggle to perform in the identical lineup. "At the moment, if we stick with the system, they won't fit together. "They might but not within this system, not preserving harmony that we created and not in this formation that comes also with wingers who are essentially experts in their positions. We presently employ with a six, eight, a 10 and a nine." From certain starters to fighting for spots Foden and Bellingham have been deployed on the flanks for England in the past, but the manager's choices indicate that Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka are his primary selections on the left and right flank 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 fixtures at the European Championship in Germany, where Southgate's side lost to Spain in the final. In the 16 games the stars have performed alongside each other, England have secured 10 victories, drawn three and lost three, scoring 36 times 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. Morgan Rogers has been the main number 10 because of his impressive ball progression, ball-striking and skill in entering the penalty area when the striker drops deep. Tuchel has mentioned preferring natural flank operators. The Arsenal and Newcastle stars play out wide weekly and can maintain possession effectively, engage in one-on-one situations, 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. So how could Tuchel use these three players? Foden and Bellingham would be competing with attacking alternatives for the attacking midfield position, with Kane probably featuring up front. Foden could operate as the number nine, which theoretically could allow both Bellingham and Foden to operate without the captain. There is a potential solution all three could play in this system and Tuchel suggested it this week. "For Man City, he operates similarly to a central or attacking midfielder, so maybe during the next months we view him as a box-to-box player," he said. Foden has been utilized as a flexible midfielder this season. That has permitted him to contribute from midfield and could categorize him as the number eight, alongside a holding midfielder. This would then permit Bellingham to feature as the number 10 and Kane as the nine. No matter whether 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.