Three Lions Team Depth Called 'Absurd' - Wales Manager Craig Bellamy
- Published
International friendly: England v Wales
Venue: London's Wembley, London Date: October 9th Kick-off: 7:45 PM BST
Craig Bellamy says the English squad depth is remarkable that matchmakers wouldn't pair them with his Wales side.
The Welsh squad face their neighbors in a non-competitive match at the national stadium on this Thursday before their important qualifying match against Belgium next Monday.
England manager Thomas Tuchel has left the likes of Bellingham, Phil Foden and Jack Grealish from his selection for the Wales friendly and their World Cup qualifier against Latvia.
"England have a incredible team, like the French," the coach remarked.
"England have a transfer market value of 1.4 billion pounds, ours is 170 million. Were you a fight promoter, you would not put us together. It wouldn't be allowed."
He says ensuring Wales can compete with the star-studded rivals is a "driving force".
The Wales head coach continued: "We don't go off values, but the reality is England have more than one team. 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 recently and there's only 24 more to choose from! They have 60-odd footballers. I wish us to be well-equipped like them."
The neighbouring countries last faced each other at the 2022 World Cup in the Middle East, when England emerged as easy victors in a fixture before Gareth Southgate's side made it to the last eight.
Southgate's successor is Thomas Tuchel, a Champions League and world club winner at Chelsea who has claimed domestic titles in Ligue 1 and his home country.
Bellamy was previously an assistant at the Belgian side and Burnley to Kompany, who succeeded him at the German giants.
"Tuchel's an incredible manager - his achievements speak for themselves," he added.
"I possess some sort of insight because the club he left I am familiar with people who have joined. I get a bit of an insight there of his methods and it's very impressive. "
"His strategic planning is elite and I wanted to be facing that - observe how we adjust because he will. I can learn from that. I'd love to reach that level."
Welsh Squad Selection
Goalkeepers: Karl Darlow (Leeds United), Adam Davies (Sheffield United), Tom King (the Toffees).
Backline: Ben Cabango (Swansea), Dasilva (Coventry City), B. Davies (Spurs), Ronan Kpakio (Cardiff), Lawlor (Cardiff), Mepham (West Brom), Joe Rodon (Leeds), Williams (Forest).
Midfield: Ethan Ampadu (Leeds), Brooks (Bournemouth), J. James (Leicester - loaned by Rennes), Sheehan (Bolton Wanderers), Sorba Thomas (Stoke City), Harry Wilson (Fulham), J. Colwill (Cardiff), R. Colwill (Cardiff).
Attackers: Broadhead (Wrexham), Cullen (Swansea City), Harris (Oxford United), Lewis Koumas (Birmingham - on loan from Liverpool), Brennan Johnson (Spurs), Moore (Wrexham), Isaak Davies (Cardiff).
