After achieving six consecutive triumphs in six games, no goals conceded and World Cup qualification confirmed with matches remaining, Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel can argue he has made the right selection choices.
However, in the build-up to Thursday's home game against Serbia, he sparked a debate when he claimed that three of the nation's top talents - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - cannot play in the equivalent formation.
"At the moment, if we maintain the formation, they are unable to feature.
"They might but not with current tactics, not for the balance that we established and not in this formation that also includes wingers who are like specialists in their positions. We play at the moment with specific numbered positions."
The Manchester City and Real Madrid stars have been used in wide positions for England in the past, but Tuchel's selections imply that the Barcelona loanee and Arsenal's winger are his first choices on the left and right flank respectively.
But can Bellingham, Foden and Kane operate simultaneously?
The previous England manager evidently thought it possible.
Bellingham, Foden and Kane started all of England's seven games at last summer's tournament in Germany, where the national squad fell to the Spanish in the final.
In the 16 matches the stars have performed simultaneously, England have secured 10 victories, shared points three times and been defeated three times, registering 36 scores and letting in 14 strikes.
Tuchel has employed a four-two-three-one setup that transforms formation when England attack.
The Aston Villa player has been the primary attacking midfielder because of his strong ball-carrying, ball-striking and capacity to penetrate the area when the forward retreats.
Tuchel has discussed favoring natural flank operators. The wide attackers play out wide weekly and can hold the ball well, challenge defenders, and arrive in the box to score.
Behind this front four, Tuchel plays with a midfield two consisting of a holding midfielder and a partner with attacking liberty to support offensive play.
Foden and Bellingham would be competing with Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers and Eberechi Eze for the number 10 role, with Kane probably featuring up front.
Foden could feature as the number nine, which theoretically could permit both Bellingham and Foden to operate without the captain.
There is a potential solution all three could coexist effectively and Tuchel hinted at it this week.
"At Manchester City, he plays almost like a central or attacking midfielder, so potentially in future we view him as a central midfielder," he said.
Foden has been used in a more all-purpose midfield role this season.
That has allowed him to take responsibility deeper and could categorize him as the number eight, alongside a holding midfielder.
This would then permit Bellingham to feature as the number 10 and Kane as the nine.
Irrespective of whether Tuchel decides to set England up like this at the global tournament, what appears positive is his willingness to leave big players out in the name of balance.
A tech analyst and business strategist with over a decade of experience in global markets, specializing in digital transformation and innovation.
