Three Lions Team Strength Labelled 'Absurd' - Wales Boss Craig Bellamy
- Published
International friendly: England v Wales
Venue: Wembley Stadium, the capital Date: Thursday, 9 October Kick-off: 19:45 BST
Craig Bellamy says the English squad depth is so impressive that matchmakers wouldn't match them against his Wales side.
The Welsh squad meet England in a non-competitive match at the national stadium on Thursday before their crucial qualifying match against Belgium next Monday.
National team coach Thomas Tuchel has omitted the likes of Bellingham, Phil Foden and Jack Grealish out of his selection for the Wales friendly and their World Cup qualifier against Latvia.
"England have a ridiculous squad, similar to the French," Bellamy remarked.
"They have a transfer market value of 1.4 billion pounds, Wales' is 170 million. Were you a boxing promoter, you would not put us together. It wouldn't be allowed."
He says making sure Wales can compete with the talented rivals is a "key motivation".
The Wales head coach added: "We do not rely on market prices, but the simple fact is they don't just have a single lineup. They possess two, three, four and France and others have the same level. England have many great players and that's the honest truth."
"One right-back was ruled out with injury the other day and there's only 24 more to go! They've got 60-odd players. I'd love Wales to be stacked like them."
These two nations last faced each other at the 2022 World Cup in the Middle East, when the English ran out comfortable 3-0 winners in a fixture before the previous England team reached the quarter-finals.
The new manager is Tuchel, a Champions League and world club winner at Chelsea who has claimed domestic titles in France and his home country.
The Welsh boss was formerly an coach at Anderlecht and Burnley to Vincent Kompany, who succeeded Tuchel at the German giants.
"He's an outstanding manager - his achievements speak for themselves," he noted.
"I have a degree of insight because the club he left I know individuals who have joined. I get a glimpse there of his methods and it's very impressive. "
"His strategic planning is top level and I wanted to be facing that - observe how you're going to adapt because he will. I can learn from it. I aspire to reach such heights."
Welsh Squad List
Goalkeepers: Karl Darlow (Leeds), Davies (Sheffield United), Tom King (the Toffees).
Backline: Cabango (Swansea City), Dasilva (Coventry), B. Davies (Spurs), Ronan Kpakio (Cardiff City), Lawlor (Cardiff), Chris Mepham (West Bromwich Albion), Rodon (Leeds), Neco Williams (Forest).
Midfielders: Ampadu (Leeds United), Brooks (Bournemouth), J. James (Leicester - loaned by Stade Rennais), Josh Sheehan (Bolton Wanderers), Sorba Thomas (Stoke), H. Wilson (the Cottagers), J. Colwill (Cardiff City), R. Colwill (Cardiff City).
Forwards: Broadhead (the Red Dragons), Liam Cullen (Swansea), Mark Harris (Oxford), Lewis Koumas (Birmingham - loaned by the Reds), Brennan Johnson (Tottenham Hotspur), Moore (Wrexham), I. Davies (Cardiff City).
