Having secured six victories from six matches, no goals conceded and tournament placement confirmed with matches remaining, Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel can argue he has got all of his big qualifying decisions correct.
Yet, in the lead-up to Thursday's Wembley encounter against Serbia, he raised questions when he claimed that three of the country's best players - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - cannot play in the identical lineup.
"At the moment, if we stick with the system, they won't fit together.
"They might but not with current tactics, not for the balance that we established and not for the structure that also includes wingers who are essentially experts in their positions. We currently utilize with defensive, central, attacking midfielders and striker."
From certain starters to fighting for spots
England's creative talents have been deployed on the flanks for England in the past, but Tuchel's selections imply that the Manchester United forward and the Gunners' star are his primary selections on the wide areas respectively.
So can Bellingham, Foden and Kane coexist in the lineup?
Gareth Southgate certainly thought so.
Bellingham, Foden and Kane featured in every England's seven matches at last summer's tournament in Germany, where the national squad lost to Spain in the final.
In the 16 games the three have featured simultaneously, England have won 10, drawn three and suffered three losses, netting 36 goals and conceding 14.
Tactical insight: Foden's flexibility provides alternatives
Tuchel has employed a four-two-three-one setup that alters structure when England attack.
Morgan Rogers has been the key creative force because of his strong ball-carrying, shooting ability and capacity to penetrate the area when the striker drops deep.
Tuchel has spoken about preferring specialist wingers. Saka and Gordon play out wide weekly and can retain the ball skillfully, take their full-back on, and appear in scoring positions.
Supporting the attacking quartet, Tuchel employs a double pivot consisting of one defensively strict player and one with more license to contribute to the attack.
Potential configurations for England's stars
Foden and Bellingham would be vying against attacking alternatives for the attacking midfield position, with Kane likely to start up front.
Foden could operate as the main forward, which potentially could allow both Bellingham and Foden to operate without the captain.
There is a potential solution all three could feature together and Tuchel suggested it this week.
"With his club, he operates similarly to a central or attacking midfielder, 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 allowed him to take responsibility deeper and could make him an option as the advanced playmaker, alongside a holding midfielder.
This would then permit Bellingham to feature as the attacking midfielder and Kane as the striker.
Regardless of if Tuchel opts to structure the side like this at the World Cup, what appears positive is his readiness to exclude star names in the name of balance.
