2 hours ago
Latest Updates
Featured Posts
Get in Touch
Location:
123 Innovation Street
Tech District, CA 94105
123 Innovation Street
Tech District, CA 94105
Email:
[email protected]
[email protected]
Phone:
+1 (234) 567-890
+1 (234) 567-890
England's star trio struggle to play together - what's the verdict?
Having secured six victories out of six, zero goals allowed and tournament placement secured with two group games to spare, Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel might claim he has got all of his big qualifying decisions correct.
However, in the build-up to Thursday's home game against Serbia, he initiated discussion when he claimed that three of the England's elite footballers - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - are unable to feature in the equivalent formation.
"At the moment, if we maintain the formation, they cannot play.
"They might but not with current tactics, not maintaining equilibrium that we developed and not for the structure that also includes wingers who are essentially experts in their positions. We play at the moment with specific numbered positions."
From guaranteed positions to competitive roles
England's creative talents have been used in wide positions for England in the past, but Tuchel's selections imply that the Manchester United forward and Bukayo Saka are his preferred options on the wing positions respectively.
So can Bellingham, Foden and Kane operate simultaneously?
The previous England manager apparently believed they could.
Bellingham, Foden and Kane started all of England's seven games at the European Championship in Germany, where the England team were defeated by Spain in the final.
In the 16 fixtures the stars have performed alongside each other, England have won 10, tied three matches and lost three, scoring 36 times and allowing 14 goals.
Strategic view: Versatile Foden offers solutions
Tuchel has utilized a 4-2-3-1 formation that alters structure when England attack.
The young midfielder has been the main number 10 because of his strong ball-carrying, strike quality and skill in entering the penalty area when the forward retreats.
Tuchel has spoken about preferring dedicated wide players. The wide attackers consistently operate in wide areas and can retain the ball skillfully, engage in one-on-one situations, and arrive in the box to score.
In midfield behind the attackers, Tuchel employs a double pivot consisting of a holding midfielder and another with greater freedom to join the forward movement.
So how could Tuchel use these three players?
Foden and Bellingham would be battling with attacking alternatives for the creative hub, with Kane likely to start up front.
Foden could play as the main forward, which potentially could enable both Bellingham and Foden to operate without the captain.
There is an alternative approach all three could feature together and Tuchel hinted at it this week.
"At Manchester City, he functions as a number eight or 10, so potentially in future we regard him as a central midfielder," 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 central midfielder, paired with a defensive anchor.
This would then permit Bellingham to feature as the creative force and Kane as the nine.
Irrespective of whether Tuchel chooses to configure the team like this at the World Cup, what seems encouraging is his preparedness to omit established stars in the name of balance.
James Shepherd
A seasoned business strategist with over a decade of experience in digital marketing and corporate growth initiatives.
August 2026 Blog Roll
July 2026 Blog Roll
June 2026 Blog Roll
May 2026 Blog Roll
April 2026 Blog Roll
March 2026 Blog Roll
February 2026 Blog Roll
January 2026 Blog Roll
December 2025 Blog Roll
November 2025 Blog Roll
October 2025 Blog Roll
Popular Posts
Sponsored News
News
The Lowest-Rated Titles of the Year 2025, Based on Review Aggregator Metacritic
James Shepherd
10 Sep 2026
News
The streaming giant's Startling New Zombie Flick Breathes New Life into a Overused Genre
James Shepherd
10 Sep 2026
News
The Iconic Puzzle Game Couldn't Succeed at This Gaming Ceremony — A New Category Might Solve This
James Shepherd
10 Sep 2026
News
'I'm fully all in with Bayern' - Kane dampens on Premier League homecoming
James Shepherd
10 Sep 2026
News
Purdy Throws a Personal Best with Five Scoring Throws as San Francisco Defeat the Indianapolis
James Shepherd
10 Sep 2026
News