England Team Strength Called 'Absurd' - Wales Boss Craig Bellamy
- Published
International friendly: England v Wales
Venue: London's Wembley, London Date: Thursday, 9 October Kick-off: 19:45 BST
Craig Bellamy says the English squad depth is so impressive that matchmakers wouldn't pair them against his Wales side.
The Welsh squad meet England in a non-competitive match at Wembley on this Thursday before their important qualifying match against Belgium next Monday.
England manager Tuchel has omitted the likes of Bellingham, Phil Foden and Jack Grealish from his selection for the match against Wales and their qualifying game against the Latvian team.
"The English have a incredible squad, like France," Bellamy said.
"England have a market valuation of £1.4bn, Wales' is 170 million. If you were a boxing promoter, you would not put us together. It wouldn't be allowed."
He explains ensuring the Welsh team can face the star-studded opponents is a "driving force".
Bellamy added: "Our team don't go off market prices, but the simple fact is England have more than one team. They possess multiple and France and other nations are similarly stacked. They have loads of great players and that's the honest truth."
"One right-back was ruled out injured the other day and there's only 24 more to go! They've got over sixty players. I'd love us to be well-equipped like them."
These two nations most recently met at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, when England emerged as comfortable 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 Fifa Club World Cup champion at Chelsea who has claimed domestic titles in France and his native Germany.
The Welsh boss was formerly an coach at the Belgian side and Burnley to Kompany, who succeeded Tuchel at Bayern Munich.
"He's an incredible manager - his record is proven," he added.
"I possess a degree of understanding because the club he left I know individuals who have joined. I get a glimpse there of his methods and it's remarkable. "
"His strategic planning is top level and I aimed to be facing that - see how we adjust because he adapts too. I will get to learn from it. I aspire to reach that level."
Wales Squad List
Goalkeepers: Darlow (Leeds United), Adam Davies (Sheffield Utd), King (Everton).
Defenders: Ben Cabango (Swansea), Jay Dasilva (Coventry), B. Davies (Tottenham Hotspur), Ronan Kpakio (Cardiff City), Dylan Lawlor (Cardiff City), Chris Mepham (West Brom), Joe Rodon (Leeds United), Neco Williams (Forest).
Midfield: Ampadu (Leeds), Brooks (Bournemouth), Jordan James (Leicester City - on loan from Rennes), Sheehan (Bolton Wanderers), Thomas (Stoke City), Harry Wilson (Fulham), Joel Colwill (Cardiff City), Rubin Colwill (Cardiff).
Attackers: Broadhead (Wrexham), Liam Cullen (Swansea City), Mark Harris (Oxford United), Lewis Koumas (Birmingham City - on loan from the Reds), Brennan Johnson (Spurs), Moore (Wrexham), Isaak Davies (Cardiff City).
