Three Lions Team Depth Labelled 'Ridiculous' - Wales Boss Bellamy
- Published
International friendly: England v Wales
Venue: London's Wembley, London Date: October 9th Kick-off: 19:45 BST
Craig Bellamy states the English squad depth is so impressive that a boxing promoter wouldn't pair them against the Welsh team.
The Welsh squad meet their neighbors in a friendly at Wembley on Thursday before their crucial World Cup qualifier against the Belgians next the following week.
National team coach Thomas Tuchel has left the likes of Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Grealish from his selection for the Wales friendly and their World Cup qualifier against Latvia.
"The English have a ridiculous squad, like the French," the coach remarked.
"England have a market valuation of £1.4bn, Wales' is 170 million. Were you a boxing promoter, you would not match us up. It wouldn't be allowed."
He explains ensuring the Welsh team can compete with the talented rivals is a "key motivation".
Bellamy added: "We don't go off market prices, but the reality is England have more than one team. They have multiple and France and other nations have the same level. They have loads of top talents and that's the honest truth."
"A defender went out injured the recently and there are 24 more to choose from! They've got 60-odd players. I wish us to be stacked like them."
These two nations most recently met at the 2022 tournament in the Middle East, when the English ran out comfortable 3-0 winners in a group match before Gareth Southgate's side reached the last eight.
Southgate's successor is Tuchel, a Champions League and Fifa Club World Cup winner at Chelsea who has claimed league championships in France and his home country.
Bellamy was formerly an assistant at the Belgian side and Burnley to Kompany, who succeeded him at the German giants.
"Tuchel's an incredible manager - his record speak for themselves," he added.
"I possess a degree of insight because the team he departed I know individuals who have gone in there. I get a glimpse from that of how he works and it's remarkable. "
"His tactical detail is elite and I wanted to be up against that - see how you're going to adapt because he will. I will get to learn from it. I'd love to reach that level."
Welsh Squad List
Keepers: Darlow (Leeds), Davies (Sheffield United), King (Everton).
Defenders: Ben Cabango (Swansea), Jay Dasilva (Coventry), Ben Davies (Tottenham Hotspur), Ronan Kpakio (Cardiff), Dylan Lawlor (Cardiff), Mepham (West Brom), Joe Rodon (Leeds United), Neco Williams (Forest).
Midfield: Ampadu (Leeds), Brooks (Bournemouth), Jordan James (Leicester City - loaned by Stade Rennais), Sheehan (Bolton Wanderers), Sorba Thomas (Stoke City), Harry Wilson (the Cottagers), J. Colwill (Cardiff), R. Colwill (Cardiff).
Attackers: Broadhead (the Red Dragons), Liam Cullen (Swansea), Harris (Oxford United), Lewis Koumas (Birmingham - loaned by the Reds), Brennan Johnson (Spurs), Kieffer Moore (Wrexham), I. Davies (Cardiff City).
