Three Lions Team Depth Labelled 'Ridiculous' - Wales Boss Bellamy
- Published
International friendly: England v Wales
Venue: London's Wembley, London Date: Thursday, 9 October Kick-off: 19:45 BST
Craig Bellamy states England's squad depth is remarkable that matchmakers would not pair them with the Welsh team.
Bellamy's men meet their neighbors in a friendly at the national stadium on this Thursday before their important World Cup qualifier against Belgium next Monday.
England manager Thomas Tuchel has left the such as Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Jack Grealish from his squad for the Wales friendly and their World Cup qualifier against Latvia.
"England have a ridiculous squad, like the French," the coach remarked.
"They have a market valuation of 1.4 billion pounds, Wales' is 170 million. If you were a boxing promoter, you wouldn't match us up. That wouldn't be permitted."
He explains ensuring Wales can face the star-studded opponents is a "driving force".
Bellamy added: "We don't go off market prices, but the reality is England don't just have a single lineup. They possess multiple and the French and other nations have the same level. England have many top talents and that's a fact."
"One right-back was ruled out with injury the other day and there are two dozen others to go! They've got 60-odd footballers. I'd love us to be stacked like them."
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 Gareth Southgate's side reached the last eight.
The new manager is Tuchel, a European and Fifa Club World Cup winner at Chelsea who has claimed domestic titles in Ligue 1 and his native Germany.
The Welsh boss was formerly an coach at the Belgian side and the English club to Vincent Kompany, who succeeded Tuchel at the German giants.
"Tuchel's an outstanding manager - his achievements speak for themselves," Bellamy added.
"I have some sort of understanding because the team he departed I am familiar with people who have gone in there. I get a glimpse there of his methods and it's remarkable. "
"His tactical detail is top level and I aimed to be up against that - observe how you're going to adapt because he will. I can learn from it. I'd love to get to that level."
Wales Squad List
Keepers: Karl Darlow (Leeds United), Davies (Sheffield United), Tom King (the Toffees).
Backline: Cabango (Swansea City), Jay Dasilva (Coventry City), Ben Davies (Tottenham Hotspur), Kpakio (Cardiff City), Dylan Lawlor (Cardiff), Chris Mepham (West Brom), Joe Rodon (Leeds United), Neco Williams (Nottingham Forest).
Midfield: Ampadu (Leeds), David Brooks (the Cherries), J. James (Leicester City - on loan from Stade Rennais), Josh Sheehan (Bolton), Thomas (Stoke City), H. Wilson (Fulham), J. Colwill (Cardiff), Rubin Colwill (Cardiff City).
Attackers: Nathan Broadhead (Wrexham), Liam Cullen (Swansea City), Mark Harris (Oxford), Koumas (Birmingham City - on loan from the Reds), Brennan Johnson (Tottenham Hotspur), Moore (Wrexham), I. Davies (Cardiff).
