Three Lions Team Depth Called 'Absurd' - Wales Manager Craig Bellamy
- Published
International friendly: Wales vs England
Venue: Wembley Stadium, the capital Date: October 9th Kick-off: 7:45 PM BST
The Wales head coach states England's player pool is remarkable that matchmakers would not match them with the Welsh team.
Bellamy's men face England in a non-competitive match at Wembley on Thursday before their crucial qualifying match against Belgium next Monday.
England manager Tuchel has left the such as Bellingham, Foden and Grealish from his selection for the match against Wales and their World Cup qualifier against Latvia.
"England have a ridiculous squad, like the French," the coach said.
"They have a transfer market value of £1.4bn, Wales' is 170 million. Were you a fight promoter, you would not put us together. That wouldn't be permitted."
Bellamy explains ensuring Wales can compete with the talented opponents is a "driving force".
Bellamy added: "We do not rely on values, but the reality is England don't just have one team. They possess two, three, four and the French and others are similarly stacked. England have many top talents and that's a fact."
"A defender was ruled out injured the recently and there are two dozen others to choose from! They have 60-odd footballers. I'd love Wales to be well-equipped like them."
The neighbouring countries most recently met at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, when the English emerged as comfortable victors in a fixture before Gareth Southgate's side reached the last eight.
The new manager is Thomas Tuchel, a European and world club winner at the London club who has won league championships in Ligue 1 and his native Germany.
Bellamy was previously an assistant at Anderlecht and the English club to Kompany, who succeeded Tuchel at Bayern Munich.
"Tuchel's an incredible coach - his achievements speak for themselves," he added.
"I have some sort of understanding because the club he left I know people who have gone in there. I get a bit of an insight from that of his methods and it's remarkable. "
"His tactical detail is top level and I aimed to be up against such a challenge - see how we adjust because he will. I can learn from it. I'd love to get to that level."
Wales Team List
Goalkeepers: Karl Darlow (Leeds), Davies (Sheffield Utd), King (the Toffees).
Defenders: Ben Cabango (Swansea City), Jay Dasilva (Coventry), B. Davies (Spurs), Kpakio (Cardiff City), Lawlor (Cardiff), Mepham (West Bromwich Albion), Rodon (Leeds United), Williams (Nottingham Forest).
Midfield: Ampadu (Leeds United), David Brooks (the Cherries), J. James (Leicester - loaned by Rennes), Sheehan (Bolton Wanderers), Thomas (Stoke), Harry Wilson (Fulham), J. Colwill (Cardiff City), Rubin Colwill (Cardiff City).
Forwards: Broadhead (Wrexham), Liam Cullen (Swansea City), Mark Harris (Oxford United), Lewis Koumas (Birmingham City - loaned by the Reds), Brennan Johnson (Spurs), Moore (Wrexham), I. Davies (Cardiff City).
