England Squad Strength Labelled 'Absurd' - Welsh Boss Bellamy
- Published
International friendly: Wales vs England
Venue: Wembley Stadium, the capital Date: Thursday, 9 October Kick-off: 7:45 PM BST
Craig Bellamy states England's player pool is so impressive that a boxing promoter would not match them with the Welsh team.
The Welsh squad face their neighbors in a non-competitive match at Wembley on Thursday before their important qualifying match against the Belgians next Monday.
National team coach Tuchel has left the such as Jude Bellingham, Foden and Jack Grealish out of his squad for the match against Wales and their World Cup qualifier against Latvia.
"The English have a incredible team, similar to the French," the coach said.
"They have a transfer market value of £1.4bn, Wales' is £170m. If you were a boxing promoter, you wouldn't put us together. It wouldn't be allowed."
Bellamy says making sure Wales can compete with the talented rivals is a "driving force".
Bellamy continued: "We don't go off market prices, but the reality is England don't just have a single lineup. They have multiple and France and others have the same level. They have loads of great players and that's a fact."
"A defender went out with injury the recently and there's only 24 more to go! They've got over sixty footballers. I'd love us to be well-equipped like them."
These two nations most recently met at the 2022 tournament in the Middle East, when the English emerged as easy 3-0 winners in a fixture before Gareth Southgate's side made it to the last eight.
The new manager is Thomas Tuchel, a Champions League and world club champion at the London club who has claimed domestic titles in France and his home country.
Bellamy was previously an assistant at Anderlecht and Burnley to Kompany, who succeeded him at the German giants.
"Tuchel's an outstanding coach - his achievements is proven," Bellamy added.
"I have some sort of insight because the club he left I am familiar with people who have joined. I gain a bit of an insight from that of how he works and it's remarkable. "
"His tactical detail is elite and I wanted to be facing such a challenge - see how we adjust because he will. I can learn from that. I'd love to reach such heights."
Welsh Team Selection
Goalkeepers: Karl Darlow (Leeds United), Davies (Sheffield United), Tom King (Everton).
Backline: Ben Cabango (Swansea City), Dasilva (Coventry), B. Davies (Spurs), Kpakio (Cardiff City), Lawlor (Cardiff), Mepham (West Bromwich Albion), Rodon (Leeds), Williams (Forest).
Midfielders: Ethan Ampadu (Leeds United), Brooks (the Cherries), J. James (Leicester - loaned by Rennes), Josh Sheehan (Bolton), Sorba Thomas (Stoke City), H. Wilson (the Cottagers), Joel Colwill (Cardiff City), R. Colwill (Cardiff).
Attackers: Nathan Broadhead (Wrexham), Liam Cullen (Swansea City), Harris (Oxford United), Koumas (Birmingham City - on loan from the Reds), Johnson (Spurs), Moore (Wrexham), Isaak Davies (Cardiff).
