🔗 Share this article Kane, Bellingham and Foden struggle 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 After achieving six consecutive triumphs in six games, no goals conceded and World Cup qualification assured before the final rounds, Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel might claim he has chosen wisely throughout qualification. Yet, in the lead-up to Thursday's domestic match against Serbia, he sparked a debate 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. "Presently, if we keep the structure, they cannot play. "They can but not within this system, not for the balance that we established and not for the structure that comes also with wingers who are essentially experts 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 his team selections indicate that the Barcelona loanee and Arsenal's winger are his primary selections on the wing positions respectively. But can Bellingham, Foden and Kane operate simultaneously? Gareth Southgate apparently believed they could. Bellingham, Foden and Kane started all of England's seven matches at last summer's tournament in Germany, where the England team fell to the Spanish in the final. In the 16 fixtures the three have featured together, England have secured 10 victories, drawn three 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 changes shape when England attack. The young midfielder has been the primary attacking midfielder because of his excellent dribbling, ball-striking and capacity to penetrate the area when the number nine withdraws. Tuchel has mentioned preferring dedicated wide players. The Arsenal and Newcastle stars regularly feature on the wings and can maintain possession effectively, take their full-back on, and enter the area to finish. Supporting the attacking quartet, Tuchel plays with a midfield two consisting of a holding midfielder and one with more license to support offensive play. Potential configurations for England's stars Foden and Bellingham would be vying against other creative midfielders for the number 10 role, 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 an alternative approach all three could feature together and Tuchel suggested it this week. "At Manchester City, he functions as a number eight or 10, so maybe during the next months we regard him as a central midfielder," he said. Foden has been utilized as a flexible midfielder this season. That has allowed him to take responsibility deeper and could categorize him as the advanced playmaker, alongside a holding midfielder. This would then permit Bellingham to feature as the attacking midfielder and Kane as the striker. Regardless of if Tuchel decides to set England up like this at the global tournament, what seems encouraging is his readiness to exclude star names in the name of balance.