Three Lions Team Depth Labelled 'Ridiculous' - Welsh Boss Bellamy
- Published
International friendly: Wales vs England
Venue: London's Wembley, the capital Date: Thursday, 9 October Kick-off: 7:45 PM BST
Craig Bellamy says the English squad depth is so impressive that a boxing promoter wouldn't match them against the Welsh team.
Bellamy's men face England in a non-competitive match at the national stadium on this Thursday before their important World Cup qualifier against Belgium next the following week.
England manager Tuchel has omitted the such as Bellingham, Phil Foden and Grealish out of his squad for the match against Wales and their World Cup qualifier against Latvia.
"England have a incredible team, similar to France," Bellamy remarked.
"They have a market valuation of £1.4bn, ours is £170m. If you were a boxing promoter, you wouldn't put us together. It wouldn't be allowed."
He explains making sure Wales can compete with the talented rivals is a "driving force".
Bellamy added: "We don't go off values, but the simple fact is they have more than a single lineup. They have two, three, four and the French and others have the same level. They have loads of top talents and that's a fact."
"One right-back was ruled out injured the other day and there are two dozen others to choose from! They have 60-odd footballers. I wish us to be stacked similarly."
These two nations most recently met at the 2022 World Cup in the Middle East, when England ran out comfortable victors in a group match before Gareth Southgate's side reached the quarter-finals.
Southgate's successor is Tuchel, a European and world club champion at Chelsea who has won league championships in France and his home country.
The Welsh boss was formerly an coach at Anderlecht and Burnley to Kompany, who succeeded Tuchel at the German giants.
"Tuchel's an outstanding coach - his record speak for themselves," Bellamy noted.
"I have a degree of insight because the club he left I am familiar with people who have joined. I gain a glimpse from that of how he works and it's remarkable. "
"His tactical detail is top level and I wanted to be facing such a challenge - observe how you're going to adapt because he adapts too. I can learn from it. I aspire to reach that level."
Wales Squad Selection
Keepers: Darlow (Leeds), Adam Davies (Sheffield United), King (Everton).
Defenders: Cabango (Swansea), Dasilva (Coventry City), B. Davies (Spurs), Ronan Kpakio (Cardiff City), Dylan Lawlor (Cardiff), Mepham (West Brom), Rodon (Leeds United), Williams (Forest).
Midfield: Ethan Ampadu (Leeds United), Brooks (Bournemouth), J. James (Leicester City - loaned by Rennes), Josh Sheehan (Bolton), Thomas (Stoke City), Harry Wilson (Fulham), Joel Colwill (Cardiff City), Rubin Colwill (Cardiff City).
Forwards: Broadhead (Wrexham), Cullen (Swansea City), Mark Harris (Oxford United), Lewis Koumas (Birmingham - loaned by the Reds), Brennan Johnson (Tottenham Hotspur), Kieffer Moore (Wrexham), Isaak Davies (Cardiff City).
