Three Lions Squad Depth Labelled 'Absurd' - Welsh Boss Bellamy
- Published
International friendly: Wales vs England
Venue: London's Wembley, London Date: Thursday, 9 October Kick-off: 19:45 BST
Craig Bellamy states England's squad depth is remarkable that a boxing promoter would not match them against his Wales side.
Bellamy's men face their neighbors in a non-competitive match at the national stadium on this Thursday before their important World Cup qualifier against the Belgians next the following week.
National team coach Thomas Tuchel has left the such as Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Jack Grealish out of his selection for the match against Wales and their qualifying game against the Latvian team.
"England have a incredible squad, similar to the French," the coach remarked.
"England have a market valuation of 1.4 billion pounds, Wales' is 170 million. Were you a boxing promoter, you wouldn't match us up. That wouldn't be permitted."
He explains making sure Wales can face the star-studded opponents is a "key motivation".
The Wales head coach added: "We don't go off values, but the simple fact is England don't just have a single lineup. They have two, three, four and France and others have the same level. They have many top talents and that's a fact."
"A defender went out with injury the other day and there are 24 more to go! They have over sixty footballers. I'd love Wales to be stacked similarly."
The neighbouring countries last faced each other at the 2022 tournament in the Middle East, when the English emerged as comfortable victors in a fixture before the previous England team made it to the last eight.
Southgate's successor is Tuchel, a Champions League and world club winner at the London club who has claimed league championships in France and his native Germany.
Bellamy was previously an coach at the Belgian side and Burnley to Vincent Kompany, who succeeded Tuchel at the German giants.
"Tuchel's an incredible coach - his achievements speak for themselves," he noted.
"I possess a degree of understanding because the club he left I know individuals who have joined. I gain a bit of an insight there of his methods and it's very impressive. "
"His tactical detail is elite and I wanted to be facing such a challenge - see how you're going to adapt because he adapts too. I will get to learn from it. I'd love to get to that level."
Wales Team List
Keepers: Darlow (Leeds), Adam Davies (Sheffield Utd), Tom King (the Toffees).
Defenders: Ben Cabango (Swansea City), Dasilva (Coventry City), Ben Davies (Spurs), Kpakio (Cardiff City), Lawlor (Cardiff City), Mepham (West Bromwich Albion), Rodon (Leeds United), Williams (Nottingham Forest).
Midfielders: Ampadu (Leeds), Brooks (Bournemouth), J. James (Leicester - on loan from Stade Rennais), Sheehan (Bolton Wanderers), Sorba Thomas (Stoke City), Harry Wilson (the Cottagers), J. Colwill (Cardiff), R. Colwill (Cardiff).
Attackers: Broadhead (Wrexham), Cullen (Swansea City), Mark Harris (Oxford), Lewis Koumas (Birmingham - loaned by Liverpool), Johnson (Spurs), Kieffer Moore (Wrexham), Isaak Davies (Cardiff City).
