Three Lions Squad Strength Called 'Absurd' - Wales Manager Bellamy
- Published
International friendly: Wales vs England
Venue: London's Wembley, the capital Date: October 9th Kick-off: 19:45 BST
The Wales head coach says the English squad depth is so impressive that a boxing promoter wouldn't match them with his Wales side.
The Welsh squad meet their neighbors in a friendly at Wembley on this Thursday before their important World Cup qualifier against Belgium next the following week.
National team coach Tuchel has omitted the likes of Bellingham, Foden and Grealish from his squad for the match against Wales and their World Cup qualifier against Latvia.
"England have a ridiculous team, similar to the French," the coach said.
"They have a market valuation of £1.4bn, Wales' is £170m. Were you a boxing promoter, you would not match us up. That wouldn't be permitted."
He explains making sure Wales can compete with the talented opponents is a "driving force".
Bellamy added: "Our team do not rely on market prices, but the simple fact is England have more than a single lineup. They have multiple and the French and others have the same level. They have many great players and that's a fact."
"A defender was ruled out injured the other day and there's only 24 more to choose from! They've got over sixty players. I wish Wales to be stacked similarly."
These two nations last faced each other at the 2022 tournament in Qatar, when England ran out comfortable victors in a fixture before Gareth Southgate's side reached the quarter-finals.
The new manager is Thomas Tuchel, a European and world club champion at Chelsea who has claimed league championships in France and his native Germany.
Bellamy was previously an assistant at Anderlecht and the English club to Kompany, who replaced him at Bayern Munich.
"Tuchel's an incredible manager - his record is proven," he noted.
"I possess a degree of understanding because the club he left I am familiar with people who have gone in there. I get a glimpse there of how he works and it's very impressive. "
"His tactical detail is top level and I aimed to be facing such a challenge - see how we adjust because he will. I will get to learn from it. I'd love to reach that level."
Wales Team List
Goalkeepers: Karl Darlow (Leeds United), Davies (Sheffield Utd), Tom King (Everton).
Defenders: Cabango (Swansea), Dasilva (Coventry City), B. Davies (Spurs), Kpakio (Cardiff), Dylan Lawlor (Cardiff City), Mepham (West Bromwich Albion), Joe Rodon (Leeds United), Williams (Forest).
Midfielders: Ethan Ampadu (Leeds United), Brooks (Bournemouth), J. James (Leicester City - on loan from Rennes), Josh Sheehan (Bolton), Thomas (Stoke City), Harry Wilson (the Cottagers), J. Colwill (Cardiff City), R. Colwill (Cardiff).
Forwards: Broadhead (the Red Dragons), Liam Cullen (Swansea), Mark Harris (Oxford), Koumas (Birmingham - on loan from the Reds), Johnson (Spurs), Kieffer Moore (Wrexham), I. Davies (Cardiff).
