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Having secured six victories from six matches, no goals conceded and tournament placement assured before the final rounds, England manager Thomas Tuchel could suggest he has made the right selection choices.

However, in the build-up to Thursday's Wembley encounter against Serbia, he initiated discussion when he stated that three of the England's elite footballers - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - cannot play in the equivalent formation.

"At the moment, if we maintain the formation, they cannot play.

"It's possible but not with current tactics, not maintaining equilibrium that we created and not for the structure that comes also with wingers who are like specialists in their positions. We presently employ with specific numbered positions."

From certain starters to fighting for spots

England's creative talents have been utilized out wide for England in the past, but the manager's choices suggest that the Barcelona loanee and Bukayo Saka are his primary selections on the wing positions respectively.

So can Bellingham, Foden and Kane coexist in the lineup?

Former Three Lions boss certainly thought so.

Bellingham, Foden and Kane featured in every England's seven fixtures at the European Championship in Germany, where Southgate's side fell to the Spanish in the final.

In the 16 games the trio have played together, England have triumphed 10 times, tied three matches and suffered three losses, netting 36 goals and letting in 14 strikes.

Strategic view: Versatile Foden offers solutions

Tuchel has employed a four-two-three-one setup that alters structure when England attack.

Morgan Rogers has been the key creative force because of his impressive ball progression, strike quality and ability to attack the box when the forward retreats.

Tuchel has spoken about preferring natural flank operators. 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.

Behind this front four, Tuchel plays with a midfield two consisting of one defensively strict player and a partner with attacking liberty to contribute to the attack.

What solutions exist for the trio?

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

Foden could feature as the main forward, which theoretically could enable both Bellingham and Foden to feature instead of Kane.

There is an alternative approach all three could coexist effectively and Tuchel hinted at it this week.

"With his club, he operates similarly to a number eight or 10, so maybe during the next months we consider him as a number eight," he said.

Foden has been deployed in a versatile central position this season.

That has enabled him to operate from deeper areas and could categorize him as the advanced playmaker, paired with a defensive anchor.

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

No matter whether Tuchel opts to structure the side like this at the World Cup, what bodes well is his preparedness to omit established stars in the name of balance.