Three Lions Squad Strength Called 'Absurd' - Wales Boss Craig Bellamy
- Published
International friendly: England v Wales
Venue: London's Wembley, London Date: October 9th Kick-off: 19:45 BST
Craig Bellamy says England's squad depth is so impressive that matchmakers would not pair them against his Wales side.
The Welsh squad meet England in a non-competitive match at Wembley on Thursday before their important qualifying match against the Belgians next the following week.
National team coach Thomas Tuchel has omitted the such as Jude Bellingham, Foden and Grealish out of his selection for the match against Wales and their World Cup qualifier against Latvia.
"England have a incredible team, like the French," the coach remarked.
"England have a market valuation of £1.4bn, ours is 170 million. If you were a fight promoter, you wouldn't match us up. It wouldn't be allowed."
Bellamy says ensuring Wales can compete with the star-studded rivals is a "key motivation".
The Wales head coach continued: "Our team don't go off values, but the reality is they don't just have one team. They possess two, three, four and France and others have the same level. They have loads of top talents and that's a fact."
"One right-back went out with injury the other day and there's only 24 more to choose from! They have over sixty footballers. I wish us to be stacked similarly."
The neighbouring countries most recently met at the 2022 World Cup in the Middle East, when the English ran out easy victors in a fixture before the previous England team reached the quarter-finals.
Southgate's successor is Thomas Tuchel, a Champions League and Fifa Club World Cup champion at the London club who has won league championships in France and his home country.
The Welsh boss was formerly an assistant at the Belgian side and Burnley to Vincent Kompany, who replaced him at Bayern Munich.
"He's an incredible manager - his record is proven," Bellamy noted.
"I have some sort of insight because the club he left I am familiar with people who have gone in there. I gain a glimpse from that of his methods and it's remarkable. "
"His strategic planning is elite and I aimed to be facing such a challenge - observe how you're going to adapt because he adapts too. I will get to learn from that. I aspire to reach such heights."
Welsh Squad Selection
Goalkeepers: Darlow (Leeds), Davies (Sheffield Utd), Tom King (Everton).
Defenders: Cabango (Swansea City), Jay Dasilva (Coventry), B. Davies (Spurs), Kpakio (Cardiff), Dylan Lawlor (Cardiff City), Chris Mepham (West Bromwich Albion), Rodon (Leeds United), Williams (Forest).
Midfield: Ethan Ampadu (Leeds United), David Brooks (Bournemouth), J. James (Leicester City - loaned by Rennes), Sheehan (Bolton Wanderers), Thomas (Stoke), Harry Wilson (Fulham), Joel Colwill (Cardiff), Rubin Colwill (Cardiff).
Attackers: Nathan Broadhead (the Red Dragons), Cullen (Swansea City), Mark Harris (Oxford United), Lewis Koumas (Birmingham City - loaned by the Reds), Johnson (Spurs), Moore (Wrexham), Isaak Davies (Cardiff).
