Three Lions Squad Depth Labelled 'Absurd' - Wales Manager Craig Bellamy
- Published
Friendly match: England v Wales
Venue: London's Wembley, London Date: Thursday, 9 October Kick-off: 7:45 PM BST
Craig Bellamy says the English player pool is so impressive that matchmakers wouldn't match them against the Welsh team.
The Welsh squad face England in a non-competitive match at Wembley on this Thursday before their important World Cup qualifier against the Belgians next the following week.
National team coach Tuchel has left the such as Jude Bellingham, Foden and Jack Grealish from his selection for the match against Wales and their qualifying game against Latvia.
"The English have a incredible team, similar to the French," Bellamy said.
"England have a market valuation of £1.4bn, ours is 170 million. If you were a fight promoter, you would not put us together. It wouldn't be allowed."
Bellamy says making sure the Welsh team can compete with the talented opponents is a "driving force".
The Wales head coach added: "Our team do not rely on market prices, but the reality is England don't just have one team. They possess multiple and France and other nations are similarly stacked. They have many top talents and that's a fact."
"One right-back went out with injury the other day and there's only two dozen others to choose from! They have 60-odd players. I'd love us to be well-equipped like them."
The neighbouring countries most recently met at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, when the English ran out easy 3-0 winners in a fixture before the previous England team reached the last eight.
Southgate's successor is Tuchel, a Champions League and world club winner at Chelsea who has claimed league championships in Ligue 1 and his native Germany.
The Welsh boss was previously an coach at the Belgian side and Burnley to Vincent Kompany, who succeeded Tuchel at the German giants.
"Tuchel's an incredible manager - his achievements speak for themselves," he noted.
"I possess some sort of understanding because the team he departed I am familiar with individuals who have gone in there. I get a glimpse there of his methods and it's remarkable. "
"His tactical detail is top level and I wanted to be up against that - see how we adjust because he will. I can learn from it. I aspire to reach such heights."
Welsh Team List
Goalkeepers: Karl Darlow (Leeds), Adam Davies (Sheffield United), Tom King (the Toffees).
Backline: Ben Cabango (Swansea City), Jay Dasilva (Coventry City), B. Davies (Spurs), Ronan Kpakio (Cardiff), Lawlor (Cardiff City), Mepham (West Brom), Rodon (Leeds), Williams (Forest).
Midfielders: Ethan Ampadu (Leeds), Brooks (the Cherries), J. James (Leicester - loaned by Stade Rennais), Josh Sheehan (Bolton), Thomas (Stoke City), H. Wilson (the Cottagers), Joel Colwill (Cardiff City), R. Colwill (Cardiff City).
Attackers: Nathan Broadhead (Wrexham), Cullen (Swansea), Harris (Oxford United), Koumas (Birmingham - on loan from Liverpool), Johnson (Tottenham Hotspur), Moore (Wrexham), I. Davies (Cardiff).
