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Tuchel says attacking trio 'cannot play' together
The Guardian
|November 13, 2025
Thomas Tuchel has warned he is unlikely to take five No 10s to the World Cup and has said Phil Foden, Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane cannot start together unless England change their system.
Phil Foden (left) is a contender for two positions, says Thomas Tuchel
The head coach is looking for the right tactical balance and is wary of cramming too many attackers into his lineup. His comments raise the prospect of at least one big-name player missing the tournament.
Tuchel has brought in a structured 4-3-3, with one No 10 behind Kane and pacy wingers supporting the captain, and has been clear about defined roles in the team. The German, whose side face Serbia tonight having qualified for the World Cup finals tournament with two games to spare, does not regard Foden as a wide player.
Instead the Manchester City attacker is vying with Bellingham and others for a central role. There is no desire on Tuchel's part to cramp Kane's style given the England captain is a striker who loves to drop back and create.
This story is from the November 13, 2025 edition of The Guardian.
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