Three Lions Team Depth Labelled 'Absurd' - Welsh Manager Bellamy
- Published
International friendly: England v Wales
Venue: Wembley Stadium, the capital Date: Thursday, 9 October Kick-off: 19:45 BST
Craig Bellamy states England's player pool is so impressive that matchmakers wouldn't pair them with the Welsh team.
The Welsh squad meet their neighbors in a non-competitive match at the national stadium on this Thursday before their crucial qualifying match against the Belgians next Monday.
National team coach Tuchel has left the likes of Jude Bellingham, Foden and Grealish from his selection for the match against Wales and their qualifying game against the Latvian team.
"England have a incredible squad, similar to France," Bellamy remarked.
"England have a transfer market value of £1.4bn, ours is £170m. Were you a fight promoter, you wouldn't match us up. It wouldn't be allowed."
Bellamy says ensuring Wales can compete with the talented opponents is a "key motivation".
The Wales head coach continued: "We don't go off values, but the simple fact is England don't just have a single lineup. They have two, three, four and France and other nations are similarly stacked. England have many great players and that's the honest truth."
"One right-back was ruled out injured the recently and there's only 24 more to choose from! They have 60-odd players. I'd love us to be well-equipped like them."
The neighbouring countries last faced each other at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, when the English ran out easy victors in a fixture before Gareth Southgate's side made it to the quarter-finals.
The new manager is Tuchel, a European and world club winner at the London club who has claimed domestic titles in Ligue 1 and his home country.
Bellamy was formerly an coach at the Belgian side and the English club to Vincent Kompany, who succeeded him at the German giants.
"He's an outstanding manager - his record is proven," he added.
"I possess some sort of understanding because the team he departed I am familiar with people who have joined. I get a glimpse from that of how he works and it's very impressive. "
"His tactical detail is elite and I wanted to be facing such a challenge - observe how you're going to adapt because he will. I will get to learn from that. I aspire to reach such heights."
Wales Squad Selection
Keepers: Karl Darlow (Leeds United), Adam Davies (Sheffield United), King (Everton).
Backline: Ben Cabango (Swansea), Jay Dasilva (Coventry), Ben Davies (Tottenham Hotspur), Ronan Kpakio (Cardiff), Dylan Lawlor (Cardiff), Mepham (West Bromwich Albion), Rodon (Leeds), Williams (Nottingham Forest).
Midfield: Ethan Ampadu (Leeds), David Brooks (the Cherries), J. James (Leicester - loaned by Stade Rennais), Josh Sheehan (Bolton Wanderers), Sorba Thomas (Stoke), Harry Wilson (the Cottagers), J. Colwill (Cardiff City), Rubin Colwill (Cardiff).
Forwards: Broadhead (Wrexham), Cullen (Swansea City), Harris (Oxford), Lewis Koumas (Birmingham - on loan from Liverpool), Johnson (Tottenham Hotspur), Kieffer Moore (Wrexham), I. Davies (Cardiff City).
