Having secured six victories from six matches, zero goals allowed and a World Cup spot confirmed with matches remaining, national team coach Thomas Tuchel might claim he has got all of his big qualifying decisions correct.
However, in the preparation for Thursday's home game against Serbia, he sparked a debate when he stated that three of the England's elite footballers - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - are unable to feature in the identical lineup.
"At the moment, if we stick with the system, they won't fit together.
"It's possible but not within this system, not for the balance that we established and not in this formation that comes also with wingers who are highly specialized in their positions. We presently employ with defensive, central, attacking midfielders and striker."
Foden and Bellingham have been deployed on the flanks for England in the past, but Tuchel's selections imply that the Barcelona loanee and Bukayo Saka are his primary selections on the wide areas respectively.
But can Bellingham, Foden and Kane operate simultaneously?
Gareth Southgate apparently believed they could.
Bellingham, Foden and Kane started all of England's seven matches at last summer's tournament in Germany, where the national squad lost to Spain in the final.
In the 16 games the three have featured simultaneously, England have secured 10 victories, drawn three and lost three, registering 36 scores and letting in 14 strikes.
Tuchel has utilized a 4-2-3-1 formation that transforms formation when England attack.
The young midfielder has been the primary attacking midfielder because of his strong ball-carrying, strike quality and ability to attack the box when the forward retreats.
Tuchel has discussed favoring natural flank operators. Saka and Gordon regularly feature on the wings and can maintain possession effectively, take their full-back on, and arrive in the box to score.
Supporting the attacking quartet, Tuchel employs a double pivot consisting of one defensively strict player and another with greater freedom to support offensive play.
Foden and Bellingham would be battling with other creative midfielders for the creative hub, with Kane probably featuring up front.
Foden could play as the main forward, which potentially could enable both Bellingham and Foden to operate without the captain.
There is one way all three could feature together and Tuchel hinted at it this week.
"With his club, he plays almost like a box-to-box or creative role, so perhaps in coming months we view 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 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 seems encouraging is his preparedness to omit established stars in the pursuit of tactical equilibrium.
A seasoned financial analyst with over a decade of experience in global markets and trading strategies.
News
News
News
News