Three Lions Squad Strength Called 'Absurd' - Wales Boss Bellamy
- Published
Friendly match: Wales vs England
Venue: London's Wembley, London Date: October 9th Kick-off: 19:45 BST
Craig Bellamy states the English player pool is so impressive that a boxing promoter would not pair them against the Welsh team.
Bellamy's men face their neighbors in a non-competitive match at the national stadium on Thursday before their crucial qualifying match against Belgium next the following week.
National team coach Tuchel has left the likes of Bellingham, Foden and Grealish from his squad for the Wales friendly and their qualifying game against Latvia.
"England have a incredible team, similar to the French," the coach remarked.
"England have a transfer market value of 1.4 billion pounds, ours is 170 million. Were you a boxing promoter, you wouldn't match us up. That wouldn't be permitted."
He explains making sure the Welsh team can compete with the talented opponents is a "driving force".
Bellamy added: "Our team do not rely on values, but the reality is they have more than a single lineup. They possess two, three, four and the French and other nations are similarly stacked. They have loads of great players and that's the honest truth."
"A defender went out injured the recently and there are 24 more to go! They've got over sixty footballers. I wish us to be well-equipped like them."
The neighbouring countries last faced each other at the 2022 tournament in the Middle East, when the English emerged as comfortable victors in a group match before Gareth Southgate's side made it to the quarter-finals.
Southgate's successor is Thomas Tuchel, a Champions League and Fifa Club World Cup champion at Chelsea who has claimed league championships in France and his home country.
The Welsh boss was formerly an coach at the Belgian side and the English club to Kompany, who succeeded Tuchel at Bayern Munich.
"He's an outstanding manager - his achievements speak for themselves," he added.
"I have some sort of insight because the club he left I am familiar with individuals who have gone in there. I gain a glimpse from that of how he works and it's remarkable. "
"His strategic planning is top level and I aimed to be up against such a challenge - see how you're going to adapt because he will. I can learn from that. I'd love to get to that level."
Welsh Team List
Keepers: Karl Darlow (Leeds), Davies (Sheffield United), Tom King (Everton).
Backline: Cabango (Swansea), Jay Dasilva (Coventry), Ben Davies (Spurs), Kpakio (Cardiff), Dylan Lawlor (Cardiff), Chris Mepham (West Brom), Joe Rodon (Leeds United), Neco Williams (Forest).
Midfielders: Ampadu (Leeds United), David Brooks (Bournemouth), Jordan James (Leicester - on loan from Rennes), Sheehan (Bolton), Thomas (Stoke), Harry Wilson (Fulham), J. Colwill (Cardiff City), R. Colwill (Cardiff).
Forwards: Broadhead (Wrexham), Liam Cullen (Swansea City), Mark Harris (Oxford), Koumas (Birmingham City - loaned by Liverpool), Brennan Johnson (Tottenham Hotspur), Kieffer Moore (Wrexham), Isaak Davies (Cardiff).
