Three Lions Team Strength Called 'Absurd' - Wales Manager Bellamy
- Published
Friendly match: Wales vs England
Venue: Wembley Stadium, London Date: October 9th Kick-off: 19:45 BST
Craig Bellamy states the English squad depth is so impressive that a boxing promoter would not 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.
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 qualifying game against the Latvian team.
"England have a ridiculous squad, similar to France," the coach said.
"England have a transfer market value of £1.4bn, Wales' is £170m. Were you a boxing promoter, you wouldn't match us up. It wouldn't be allowed."
Bellamy explains ensuring Wales can compete with the talented rivals is a "key motivation".
Bellamy added: "We do not rely on market prices, but the simple fact is England have more than one team. They possess two, three, four and the French and others have the same level. They have many great players and that's a fact."
"One right-back was ruled out injured the recently and there are two dozen others to go! They have over sixty players. I wish Wales to be stacked like them."
The neighbouring countries most recently met at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, when the English ran out easy victors in a group match before the previous England team made it to the last eight.
The new manager is Thomas Tuchel, a Champions League and world club winner at Chelsea who has won domestic titles in France and his native Germany.
The Welsh boss was previously an coach at Anderlecht and Burnley to Kompany, who succeeded him at Bayern Munich.
"He's an outstanding manager - his record speak for themselves," Bellamy noted.
"I possess some sort 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 remarkable. "
"His tactical detail is elite and I aimed to be facing such a challenge - see how you're going to adapt because he will. I will get to learn from it. I aspire to reach that level."
Wales Team List
Keepers: Darlow (Leeds), Davies (Sheffield United), King (the Toffees).
Backline: Cabango (Swansea City), Jay Dasilva (Coventry), Ben Davies (Tottenham Hotspur), Ronan Kpakio (Cardiff City), Dylan Lawlor (Cardiff City), Mepham (West Brom), Rodon (Leeds United), Neco Williams (Nottingham Forest).
Midfield: Ampadu (Leeds), Brooks (the Cherries), Jordan James (Leicester - on loan from Rennes), Sheehan (Bolton Wanderers), Thomas (Stoke City), Harry Wilson (Fulham), Joel Colwill (Cardiff City), R. Colwill (Cardiff City).
Forwards: Nathan Broadhead (Wrexham), Liam Cullen (Swansea), Mark Harris (Oxford), Lewis Koumas (Birmingham City - loaned by the Reds), Brennan Johnson (Tottenham Hotspur), Kieffer Moore (Wrexham), I. Davies (Cardiff City).
