England Squad Strength Called 'Absurd' - Wales Manager Bellamy
- Published
Friendly match: Wales vs England
Venue: London's Wembley, the capital Date: Thursday, 9 October Kick-off: 19:45 BST
Craig Bellamy states England's player pool is remarkable that a boxing promoter wouldn't pair them with the Welsh team.
The Welsh squad face England in a friendly at Wembley on this Thursday before their crucial qualifying match against the Belgians next the following week.
National team coach Thomas Tuchel has omitted the such as Bellingham, Foden and Grealish out of his selection for the match against Wales and their World Cup qualifier against Latvia.
"England have a incredible squad, like France," the coach said.
"England have a transfer market value of 1.4 billion pounds, Wales' is 170 million. Were you a boxing promoter, you would not match us up. That wouldn't be permitted."
Bellamy explains ensuring the Welsh team can face the talented rivals is a "driving force".
The Wales head coach continued: "We do not rely on market prices, but the simple fact is they have more than a single lineup. They have multiple and the French and others have the same level. England have loads of top talents and that's a fact."
"One right-back was ruled out with injury the other day and there are 24 more to go! They've got 60-odd footballers. I'd love Wales to be stacked similarly."
These two nations last faced each other at the 2022 tournament in Qatar, when England ran out comfortable 3-0 winners in a group match before the previous England team reached the last eight.
Southgate's successor is Thomas Tuchel, a Champions League and world club champion at the London club who has won league championships in Ligue 1 and his native Germany.
Bellamy was previously an coach at the Belgian side and Burnley to Kompany, who replaced Tuchel at Bayern Munich.
"He's an incredible manager - his achievements is proven," he noted.
"I possess a degree of insight because the club he left I am familiar with people who have joined. I gain a bit of an insight from that of his methods and it's very impressive. "
"His tactical detail is elite and I wanted to be up against such a challenge - see how we adjust because he will. I will get to learn from that. I aspire to reach such heights."
Wales Team List
Goalkeepers: Darlow (Leeds), Adam Davies (Sheffield United), Tom King (Everton).
Backline: Cabango (Swansea City), Jay Dasilva (Coventry City), Ben Davies (Tottenham Hotspur), Kpakio (Cardiff), Lawlor (Cardiff), Mepham (West Bromwich Albion), Joe Rodon (Leeds), Williams (Forest).
Midfield: Ethan Ampadu (Leeds), Brooks (Bournemouth), Jordan James (Leicester City - on loan from Stade Rennais), Josh Sheehan (Bolton Wanderers), Sorba Thomas (Stoke City), Harry Wilson (the Cottagers), J. Colwill (Cardiff City), Rubin Colwill (Cardiff).
Forwards: Nathan Broadhead (Wrexham), Cullen (Swansea), Mark Harris (Oxford), Lewis Koumas (Birmingham - loaned by Liverpool), Johnson (Tottenham Hotspur), Moore (Wrexham), Isaak Davies (Cardiff City).
