Kane, Bellingham and Foden are unable to operate simultaneously - does the manager have a point?
Having secured six victories from six matches, an unbreached defense and World Cup qualification assured before the final rounds, England manager Thomas Tuchel could suggest he has got all of his big qualifying decisions correct.
Yet, in the lead-up to Thursday's domestic match against Serbia, he sparked a debate when he said 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 keep the structure, they won't fit together.
"It's possible but not within this system, not for the balance that we created and not within the framework that incorporates wingers who are like specialists in their positions. We play at the moment with defensive, central, attacking midfielders and striker."
From certain starters to fighting for spots
England's creative talents have been deployed on the flanks for England in the past, but the manager's choices suggest that the Barcelona loanee and Arsenal's winger are his first choices on the wide areas respectively.
So can Bellingham, Foden and Kane play together?
Gareth Southgate evidently thought it possible.
Bellingham, Foden and Kane featured in every England's seven matches at last summer's tournament in Germany, where the national squad fell to the Spanish in the final.
In the 16 fixtures the stars have performed alongside each other, England have won 10, drawn three and suffered three losses, netting 36 goals and conceding 14.
Tactical insight: Foden's flexibility provides alternatives
Tuchel has employed a four-two-three-one setup that changes shape when England attack.
The Aston Villa player has been the key creative force because of his strong ball-carrying, shooting ability and capacity to penetrate the area when the forward retreats.
Tuchel has spoken about preferring natural flank operators. The Arsenal and Newcastle stars play out wide weekly and can hold the ball well, challenge defenders, and appear in scoring positions.
In midfield behind the attackers, Tuchel employs a double pivot consisting of a disciplined defensive presence and another with greater freedom to support offensive play.
Potential configurations for England's stars
Foden and Bellingham would be battling with attacking alternatives for the attacking midfield position, with Kane expected to lead up front.
Foden could play as the main forward, which theoretically could allow both Bellingham and Foden to operate without the captain.
There is a potential solution all three could coexist effectively and Tuchel suggested it this week.
"At Manchester City, he operates similarly to a central or attacking midfielder, so maybe during the next months we view him as a number eight," he said.
Foden has been utilized as a flexible midfielder this season.
That has enabled him to operate from deeper areas and could make him an option as the number eight, paired with a defensive anchor.
This would then permit Bellingham to feature as the attacking midfielder and Kane as the center forward.
No matter whether Tuchel opts to structure the side like this at the international competition, what appears positive is his readiness to exclude star names in the interest of team harmony.