Three Lions Team Depth Called 'Absurd' - Wales Manager Bellamy
- Published
Friendly match: England v Wales
Venue: London's Wembley, London Date: Thursday, 9 October Kick-off: 7:45 PM BST
Craig Bellamy says England's squad depth is remarkable that matchmakers wouldn't match them with his Wales side.
Bellamy's men meet their neighbors in a friendly at Wembley on Thursday before their important qualifying match against Belgium next the following week.
England manager Thomas Tuchel has left the such as Jude Bellingham, Foden and Grealish from his selection for the match against Wales and their qualifying game against Latvia.
"The English have a ridiculous team, like the French," Bellamy said.
"They have a market valuation of £1.4bn, ours is 170 million. Were you a fight promoter, you wouldn't put us together. It wouldn't be allowed."
He explains ensuring Wales can compete with the talented opponents is a "key motivation".
The Wales head coach continued: "Our team do not rely on market prices, but the simple fact is they have more than one team. They possess two, three, four and the French and other nations have the same level. They have many great players and that's a fact."
"A defender was ruled out with injury the recently and there are two dozen others to choose from! They have over sixty footballers. I'd love Wales to be stacked like them."
The neighbouring countries last faced each other at the 2022 World Cup in the Middle East, when England ran out comfortable 3-0 winners in a fixture before Gareth Southgate's side reached the last eight.
Southgate's successor is Thomas Tuchel, a European and world club champion at the London club who has won domestic titles in Ligue 1 and his home country.
The Welsh boss was previously an assistant at Anderlecht and Burnley to Vincent Kompany, who replaced Tuchel at the German giants.
"He's an outstanding manager - his achievements is proven," Bellamy noted.
"I have a degree of understanding because the team he departed I am familiar with individuals who have joined. I gain a glimpse from that of how he works and it's very impressive. "
"His strategic planning is elite and I aimed to be facing that - see how you're going to adapt because he will. I can learn from it. I aspire to get to that level."
Wales Squad List
Keepers: Darlow (Leeds), Davies (Sheffield United), King (the Toffees).
Backline: Ben Cabango (Swansea), Jay Dasilva (Coventry City), B. Davies (Tottenham Hotspur), Kpakio (Cardiff City), Dylan Lawlor (Cardiff), Mepham (West Brom), Rodon (Leeds), Williams (Nottingham Forest).
Midfield: Ethan Ampadu (Leeds), David Brooks (Bournemouth), Jordan James (Leicester - on loan from Rennes), Josh Sheehan (Bolton Wanderers), Sorba Thomas (Stoke City), H. Wilson (the Cottagers), J. Colwill (Cardiff), Rubin Colwill (Cardiff City).
Attackers: Broadhead (the Red Dragons), Cullen (Swansea City), Harris (Oxford), Koumas (Birmingham - loaned by the Reds), Brennan Johnson (Tottenham Hotspur), Kieffer Moore (Wrexham), I. Davies (Cardiff City).