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Having secured six victories in six games, an unbreached defense and tournament placement secured with two group games to spare, England manager Thomas Tuchel can argue he has got all of his big qualifying decisions correct.

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 - cannot play in the equivalent formation.

"Presently, if we keep the structure, they cannot play.

"They can but not in the structure, not for the balance that we created and not for the structure that comes also with wingers who are highly specialized in their positions. We presently employ with a six, eight, a 10 and a nine."

From automatic picks to contested places

The Manchester City and Real Madrid stars have been used in wide positions for England in the past, but Tuchel's selections indicate that the Manchester United forward and Arsenal's winger are his first choices on the left and right flank respectively.

So can Bellingham, Foden and Kane play together?

The previous England manager certainly thought so.

Bellingham, Foden and Kane were selected for each England's seven fixtures at the European Championship in Germany, where the national squad were defeated by Spain in the final.

In the 16 games the three have featured simultaneously, England have triumphed 10 times, shared points three times and lost three, scoring 36 times and allowing 14 goals.

Tactical insight: Foden's flexibility provides alternatives

Tuchel has played a 4-2-3-1 system that alters structure when England attack.

The young midfielder has been the primary attacking midfielder because of his strong ball-carrying, ball-striking and skill in entering the penalty area when the forward retreats.

Tuchel has discussed favoring natural flank operators. The wide attackers regularly feature on the wings and can retain the ball skillfully, challenge defenders, and enter the area to finish.

In midfield behind the attackers, Tuchel employs a double pivot consisting of a holding midfielder and another with greater freedom to contribute to the attack.

What solutions exist for the trio?

Foden and Bellingham would be vying against attacking alternatives for the creative hub, with Kane expected to lead up front.

Foden could feature as the central striker, which potentially could permit both Bellingham and Foden to play at Kane's expense.

There is an alternative approach all three could play in this system and Tuchel alluded to it this week.

"With his club, he operates similarly to a central or attacking midfielder, so potentially in future we view him as a box-to-box player," he said.

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

That has allowed him to take responsibility deeper and could make him an option as the number eight, alongside a holding midfielder.

This would then allow Bellingham to play as the attacking midfielder and Kane as the nine.

No matter whether Tuchel opts to structure the side like this at the global tournament, what appears positive is his willingness to leave big players out in the pursuit of tactical equilibrium.