Having secured six victories in six games, an unbreached defense and a World Cup spot assured before the final rounds, national team coach Thomas Tuchel might claim he has chosen wisely throughout qualification.
Nevertheless, in the build-up to Thursday's home game 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.
"Presently, if we maintain the formation, they cannot play.
"They can but not in the structure, not maintaining equilibrium that we created and not in this formation that incorporates wingers who are highly specialized in their positions. We play at the moment with specific numbered positions."
Foden and Bellingham have been deployed on the flanks for England in the past, but Tuchel's selections suggest that the Barcelona loanee and Arsenal's winger are his first choices on the left and right flank 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 games at last summer's tournament in Germany, where Southgate's side were defeated by Spain in the final.
In the 16 matches the stars have performed together, England have won 10, tied three matches and been defeated three times, registering 36 scores and allowing 14 goals.
Tuchel has played a 4-2-3-1 system that changes shape when England attack.
The young midfielder has been the key creative force because of his impressive ball progression, ball-striking and ability to attack the box when the number nine withdraws.
Tuchel has discussed favoring specialist wingers. The Arsenal and Newcastle stars play out wide weekly and can retain the ball skillfully, challenge defenders, and appear in scoring positions.
In midfield behind the attackers, Tuchel employs a double pivot consisting of one defensively strict player and one with more license to join the forward movement.
Foden and Bellingham would be vying against other creative midfielders for the number 10 role, with Kane likely to start up front.
Foden could play as the main forward, which potentially could permit both Bellingham and Foden to feature instead of Kane.
There is a potential solution all three could coexist effectively and Tuchel alluded to it this week.
"With his club, he plays almost like a central or attacking midfielder, so potentially in future we consider 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 position him as the number eight, paired with a defensive anchor.
This would then enable Bellingham to operate as the creative force and Kane as the striker.
Regardless of if Tuchel decides to set England up like this at the global tournament, what seems encouraging is his readiness to exclude star names in the name of balance.
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