Kane, Bellingham and Foden struggle to operate simultaneously - does the manager have a point?
With six wins from six matches, zero goals allowed and World Cup qualification confirmed with matches remaining, Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel could suggest he has made the right selection choices.
Nevertheless, in the build-up to Thursday's Wembley encounter against Serbia, he raised questions when he claimed that three of the nation's top talents - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - are unable to feature in the identical lineup.
"At the moment, if we stick with the system, they cannot play.
"It's possible but not within this system, not preserving harmony that we developed and not for the structure that also includes wingers who are like specialists 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 utilized out wide for England in the past, but the manager's choices imply that the Barcelona loanee and Bukayo Saka are his preferred options on the wing positions respectively.
But can Bellingham, Foden and Kane operate simultaneously?
Former Three Lions boss evidently thought it possible.
Bellingham, Foden and Kane were selected for each England's seven fixtures at the European Championship in Germany, where the England team were defeated by Spain in the final.
In the 16 matches the three have featured simultaneously, England have triumphed 10 times, tied three matches and been defeated three times, scoring 36 times and conceding 14.
Tactical insight: Foden's flexibility provides alternatives
Tuchel has utilized a 4-2-3-1 formation that changes shape when England attack.
Morgan Rogers has been the key creative force because of his excellent dribbling, shooting ability and capacity to penetrate the area when the forward retreats.
Tuchel has discussed favoring specialist wingers. The wide attackers play out wide weekly and can retain the ball skillfully, take their full-back on, and enter the area to finish.
Behind this front four, Tuchel utilizes two central midfielders consisting of a disciplined defensive presence and a partner with attacking liberty to contribute to the attack.
Potential configurations for England's stars
Foden and Bellingham would be competing with attacking alternatives for the creative hub, with Kane likely to start up front.
Foden could play as the number nine, which potentially could allow both Bellingham and Foden to feature instead of Kane.
There is a potential solution all three could feature together and Tuchel alluded to it this week.
"At Manchester City, he functions as a number eight or 10, so perhaps in coming months we consider him as a number eight," 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, next to a more defensive number six.
This would then allow Bellingham to play as the number 10 and Kane as the center forward.
No matter whether Tuchel decides to set England up like this at the international competition, what seems encouraging is his preparedness to omit established stars in the name of balance.