Three Lions Squad Strength Labelled 'Absurd' - Wales Boss Bellamy
- Published
Friendly match: England v Wales
Venue: Wembley Stadium, London Date: October 9th Kick-off: 19:45 BST
The Wales head coach says England's squad depth is remarkable that a boxing promoter would not match them with his Wales side.
Bellamy's men face England in a friendly at the national stadium on this Thursday before their crucial qualifying match against the Belgians next Monday.
England manager Thomas Tuchel has omitted the likes of Bellingham, Foden and Grealish out of his selection for the Wales friendly and their World Cup qualifier against the Latvian team.
"The English have a incredible squad, similar to France," Bellamy said.
"England have a transfer market value of £1.4bn, Wales' is 170 million. Were you a fight promoter, you would not put us together. It wouldn't be allowed."
He explains ensuring the Welsh team can compete with the star-studded rivals is a "driving force".
The Wales head coach continued: "Our team do not rely on values, but the reality is England don't just have one team. They possess multiple and France and others are similarly stacked. They have many top talents and that's the honest truth."
"A defender went out injured the recently and there's only 24 more to choose from! They've got over sixty players. I wish Wales to be well-equipped similarly."
The neighbouring countries most recently met at the 2022 tournament in Qatar, when the English ran out comfortable victors in a fixture before Gareth Southgate's side made it to the quarter-finals.
The new manager is Thomas Tuchel, a European and world club winner at Chelsea who has claimed domestic titles in Ligue 1 and his home country.
The Welsh boss was formerly an assistant at Anderlecht and Burnley to Vincent Kompany, who replaced him at the German giants.
"Tuchel's an incredible manager - his record speak for themselves," he noted.
"I have a degree of understanding because the club he left I am familiar with individuals who have joined. I gain a bit of an insight there of his methods and it's remarkable. "
"His tactical detail is elite and I wanted to be facing such a challenge - observe how we adjust because he will. I will get to learn from it. I'd love to get to that level."
Welsh Team List
Goalkeepers: Karl Darlow (Leeds United), Adam Davies (Sheffield Utd), King (the Toffees).
Defenders: Cabango (Swansea), Dasilva (Coventry City), Ben Davies (Tottenham Hotspur), Ronan Kpakio (Cardiff City), Lawlor (Cardiff City), Mepham (West Brom), Rodon (Leeds), Neco Williams (Nottingham Forest).
Midfield: Ethan Ampadu (Leeds), Brooks (Bournemouth), J. James (Leicester - loaned by Stade Rennais), Sheehan (Bolton Wanderers), Thomas (Stoke), Harry Wilson (Fulham), Joel Colwill (Cardiff City), R. Colwill (Cardiff).
Forwards: Nathan Broadhead (the Red Dragons), Liam Cullen (Swansea City), Mark Harris (Oxford), Lewis Koumas (Birmingham - loaned by Liverpool), Johnson (Spurs), Moore (Wrexham), I. Davies (Cardiff).
