đź”— Share this article England's star trio are unable to operate simultaneously - is Tuchel right? Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden have been key players for England over the last five seasons After achieving six consecutive triumphs in six games, an unbreached defense and tournament placement secured with two group games to spare, national team coach Thomas Tuchel might claim he has chosen wisely throughout qualification. Nevertheless, in the preparation for Thursday's Wembley encounter against Serbia, he initiated discussion when he claimed that three of the nation's top talents - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - are unable to feature in the same team. "At the moment, if we maintain the formation, they won't fit together. "They can but not with current tactics, not preserving harmony that we created and not within the framework that comes also with wingers who are like specialists in their positions. We play at the moment with specific numbered positions." From certain starters to fighting for spots Foden and Bellingham have been used in wide positions for England in the past, but his team selections imply that the Barcelona loanee and Bukayo Saka are his first choices on the wing positions respectively. But can Bellingham, Foden and Kane operate simultaneously? The previous England manager apparently believed they could. Bellingham, Foden and Kane started all of England's seven fixtures at last summer's tournament in Germany, where Southgate's side were defeated by Spain in the final. In the 16 fixtures the three have featured together, England have secured 10 victories, shared points three times and suffered three losses, scoring 36 times and allowing 14 goals. Tactical insight: Foden's flexibility provides alternatives Tuchel has utilized a 4-2-3-1 formation that changes shape when England attack. The young midfielder has been the main number 10 because of his impressive ball progression, shooting ability and skill in entering the penalty area when the striker drops deep. Tuchel has spoken about preferring specialist wingers. The wide attackers play out wide weekly and can maintain possession effectively, challenge defenders, and arrive in the box to score. Behind this front four, Tuchel employs a double pivot consisting of one defensively strict player and another with greater freedom to join the forward movement. Potential configurations for England's stars Foden and Bellingham would be competing with other creative midfielders for the creative hub, with Kane expected to lead up front. Foden could play as the central striker, which in theory could allow both Bellingham and Foden to play at Kane's expense. There is one way all three could play in this system and Tuchel suggested it this week. "For Man City, he functions as a central or attacking midfielder, so perhaps in coming months we view him as a central midfielder," he said. Foden has been utilized as a flexible midfielder this season. That has enabled him to operate from deeper areas and could position him as the advanced playmaker, alongside a holding midfielder. This would then allow Bellingham to play as the number 10 and Kane as the striker. No matter whether Tuchel opts to structure the side like this at the international competition, what bodes well is his willingness to leave big players out in the pursuit of tactical equilibrium.