England's star trio struggle to operate simultaneously - what's the verdict?

England football stars
Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden have been crucial figures for England over the past five years

Having secured six victories from six matches, zero goals allowed and World Cup qualification secured with two group games to spare, England manager Thomas Tuchel might claim he has made the right selection choices.

Yet, in the build-up to Thursday's Wembley encounter against Serbia, he raised questions when he stated that three of the nation's top talents - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - struggle to perform in the identical lineup.

"Presently, if we stick with the system, they cannot play.
"They might but not with current tactics, not for the balance that we established and not within the framework that also includes wingers who are highly specialized in their positions. We play at the moment with specific numbered positions."

From automatic picks to contested places

England's creative talents have been deployed on the flanks for England in the past, but his team selections indicate that the Manchester United forward and Bukayo Saka are his preferred options on the wide areas 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 matches the stars have performed simultaneously, England have won 10, shared points three times and suffered three losses, scoring 36 times and conceding 14.

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 key creative force because of his impressive ball progression, ball-striking and capacity to penetrate the area when the striker drops deep.

Tuchel has spoken about preferring natural flank operators. The Arsenal and Newcastle stars regularly feature on the wings and can hold the ball well, challenge defenders, and arrive in the box to score.

In midfield behind the attackers, Tuchel employs a double pivot consisting of a disciplined defensive presence and one with more license to join the forward movement.

So how could Tuchel use these three players?

Foden and Bellingham would be vying against attacking alternatives for the number 10 role, with Kane expected to lead up front.

Foden could play as the central striker, which potentially could enable both Bellingham and Foden to operate without the captain.

There is one way all three could feature together and Tuchel suggested it this week.

"At Manchester City, he operates similarly to a central or attacking midfielder, so perhaps in coming months we consider him as a central midfielder," 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 advanced playmaker, next to a more defensive number six.

This would then enable Bellingham to operate as the creative force and Kane as the striker.

Regardless of if Tuchel opts to structure the side like this at the World Cup, what bodes well is his willingness to leave big players out in the interest of team harmony.

Brian Tate
Brian Tate

Film critic and industry analyst with a passion for uncovering cinematic trends and storytelling techniques.