Kane, Bellingham and Foden can't fit in the same lineup - does the manager have a point?
With six wins out of six, no goals conceded and World Cup qualification assured before the final rounds, England manager Thomas Tuchel can argue he has got all of his big qualifying decisions correct.
However, in the build-up to Thursday's domestic match against Serbia, he initiated discussion when he claimed that three of the nation's top talents - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - are unable to feature in the equivalent formation.
"At the moment, if we stick with the system, they are unable to feature.
"It's possible but not in the structure, not maintaining equilibrium that we developed and not within the framework that also includes wingers who are essentially experts in their positions. We currently utilize with a six, eight, a 10 and a nine."
From guaranteed positions to competitive roles
Foden and Bellingham have been deployed on the flanks for England in the past, but Tuchel's selections suggest that the Barcelona loanee and the Gunners' star are his primary selections on the wing positions respectively.
The question remains whether Bellingham, Foden and Kane coexist in the lineup?
Gareth Southgate certainly thought so.
Bellingham, Foden and Kane started all of England's seven matches at the European Championship in Germany, where Southgate's side fell to the Spanish in the final.
In the 16 matches the trio have played together, England have won 10, tied three matches and been defeated three times, scoring 36 times 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 excellent dribbling, shooting ability and ability to attack the box when the forward retreats.
Tuchel has discussed favoring specialist wingers. The wide attackers regularly feature on the wings and can hold the ball well, challenge defenders, and arrive in the box to score.
Supporting the attacking quartet, Tuchel utilizes two central midfielders consisting of one defensively strict player and another with greater freedom to contribute to the attack.
So how could Tuchel use these three players?
Foden and Bellingham would be competing with Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers and Eberechi Eze for the attacking midfield position, with Kane probably featuring up front.
Foden could operate as the number nine, which theoretically could enable both Bellingham and Foden to play at Kane's expense.
There is one way all three could play in this system and Tuchel suggested it this week.
"At Manchester City, he operates similarly to a number eight or 10, so perhaps in coming months we view him as a number eight," he said.
Foden has been deployed in a versatile central position this season.
That has permitted him to contribute from midfield and could position him as the number eight, next to a more defensive number six.
This would then permit Bellingham to feature as the attacking midfielder and Kane as the striker.
No matter whether Tuchel chooses to configure the team like this at the World Cup, what bodes well is his willingness to leave big players out in the name of balance.