Three Lions Squad Strength Called 'Ridiculous' - Welsh Boss Craig Bellamy
- Published
Friendly match: England v Wales
Venue: Wembley Stadium, the capital Date: Thursday, 9 October Kick-off: 19:45 BST
The Wales head coach states the English squad depth is remarkable that matchmakers wouldn't match them against the Welsh team.
Bellamy's men face their neighbors in a friendly at Wembley on Thursday before their important qualifying match against the Belgians next Monday.
England manager Tuchel has left the such as Bellingham, Foden and Grealish from his selection for the match against Wales and their World Cup qualifier against Latvia.
"England have a incredible team, similar to the French," the coach said.
"They have a market valuation of 1.4 billion pounds, ours is 170 million. If you were a fight promoter, you wouldn't match us up. That wouldn't be permitted."
Bellamy explains making sure Wales can face the talented opponents is a "driving force".
The Wales head coach continued: "We don't go off market prices, but the reality is they don't just have a single lineup. They possess two, three, four and France and other nations have the same level. They have loads of great players and that's a fact."
"One right-back went out with injury the other day and there's only two dozen others to go! They have over sixty players. I'd love Wales to be well-equipped like them."
These two nations most recently met at the 2022 World Cup in the Middle East, when the English ran out easy victors in a fixture before Gareth Southgate's side reached the last eight.
Southgate's successor is Thomas Tuchel, a European and Fifa Club World Cup winner at the London club who has claimed domestic titles in France and his home country.
Bellamy was formerly an assistant at Anderlecht and Burnley to Vincent Kompany, who replaced him at the German giants.
"He's an incredible manager - his record is proven," he added.
"I possess a degree of insight because the team he departed I am familiar with people who have gone in there. I get a bit of an insight from that of his methods and it's very impressive. "
"His strategic planning is elite and I aimed to be up against such a challenge - observe how we adjust because he will. I can learn from that. I'd love to get to that level."
Wales Squad Selection
Keepers: Karl Darlow (Leeds), Adam Davies (Sheffield United), Tom King (Everton).
Backline: Cabango (Swansea City), Jay Dasilva (Coventry City), B. Davies (Spurs), Ronan Kpakio (Cardiff), Dylan Lawlor (Cardiff), Mepham (West Bromwich Albion), Joe Rodon (Leeds), Neco Williams (Forest).
Midfield: Ethan Ampadu (Leeds), Brooks (the Cherries), J. James (Leicester City - loaned by Rennes), Sheehan (Bolton Wanderers), Sorba Thomas (Stoke City), Harry Wilson (Fulham), J. Colwill (Cardiff), Rubin Colwill (Cardiff City).
Attackers: Nathan Broadhead (the Red Dragons), Liam Cullen (Swansea City), Mark Harris (Oxford), Lewis Koumas (Birmingham City - on loan from Liverpool), Brennan Johnson (Spurs), Moore (Wrexham), Isaak Davies (Cardiff City).