🔗 Share this article Kane, Bellingham and Foden are unable to play together - does the manager have a point? Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden have been key players for England over the recent half-decade With six wins from six matches, no goals conceded and World Cup qualification confirmed with matches remaining, Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel could suggest he has chosen wisely throughout qualification. Nevertheless, in the lead-up to Thursday's home game against Serbia, he initiated discussion when he stated that three of the country's best players - 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 within this system, not preserving harmony that we established and not for the structure that incorporates wingers who are highly specialized in their positions. We currently utilize with a six, eight, a 10 and a nine." From automatic picks to contested places Foden and Bellingham have been deployed on the flanks for England in the past, but Tuchel's selections indicate that Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka are his preferred options on the wing positions respectively. The question remains whether Bellingham, Foden and Kane play together? Gareth Southgate certainly thought so. Bellingham, Foden and Kane featured in every England's seven games at the European Championship in Germany, where the England team fell to the Spanish in the final. In the 16 matches the three have featured together, England have triumphed 10 times, drawn three and lost three, registering 36 scores and letting in 14 strikes. Tactical insight: Foden's flexibility provides alternatives Tuchel has utilized a 4-2-3-1 formation 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 skill in entering the penalty area when the number nine withdraws. Tuchel has mentioned preferring dedicated wide players. Saka and Gordon regularly feature on the wings and can hold the ball well, engage in one-on-one situations, and appear in scoring positions. Supporting the attacking quartet, Tuchel utilizes two central midfielders consisting of one defensively strict player and one with more license to support offensive play. What solutions exist for the trio? Foden and Bellingham would be competing with Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers and Eberechi Eze for the creative hub, with Kane probably featuring up front. Foden could play as the number nine, which potentially could enable both Bellingham and Foden to operate without the captain. There is a potential solution all three could feature together and Tuchel alluded to it this week. "At Manchester City, he plays almost like a central or attacking midfielder, so maybe during the next months we regard him as a number eight," he said. Foden has been utilized as a flexible midfielder this season. That has permitted him to contribute from midfield and could make him an option as the number eight, paired with a defensive anchor. This would then enable Bellingham to operate as the creative force and Kane as the striker. Irrespective of 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 name of balance.