Three Lions Team Strength Called 'Absurd' - Wales Manager Bellamy
- Published
International friendly: Wales vs England
Venue: Wembley Stadium, London Date: Thursday, 9 October Kick-off: 19:45 BST
Craig Bellamy says the English squad depth is so impressive that a boxing promoter would not pair them with the Welsh team.
The Welsh squad meet England in a non-competitive match at the national stadium on Thursday before their important World Cup qualifier against the Belgians next the following week.
National team coach Tuchel has left the likes of Jude Bellingham, Foden and Jack Grealish from his squad for the Wales friendly and their World Cup qualifier against Latvia.
"England have a incredible squad, similar to France," the coach said.
"England 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 explains making sure the Welsh team can compete with the talented opponents is a "driving force".
Bellamy added: "Our team don't go off market prices, but the reality is they have more than one team. They have two, three, four and the French and others are similarly stacked. They have many top talents and that's a fact."
"A defender went out injured the other day and there are 24 more to go! They've got 60-odd footballers. I'd love us to be well-equipped like them."
These two nations last faced each other at the 2022 tournament in the Middle East, when the English emerged as easy victors in a group match before Gareth Southgate's side made it to the quarter-finals.
Southgate's successor is Tuchel, a European and Fifa Club World Cup champion at Chelsea who has won domestic titles in Ligue 1 and his home country.
The Welsh boss was previously an coach at the Belgian side and Burnley to Kompany, who succeeded Tuchel at Bayern Munich.
"Tuchel's an incredible coach - his record speak for themselves," Bellamy noted.
"I have some sort of understanding because the team he departed I know individuals who have gone in there. I gain a glimpse from that of his methods and it's very impressive. "
"His strategic planning is elite and I wanted to be up against such a challenge - see how we adjust because he adapts too. I can learn from that. I'd love to get to that level."
Wales Squad Selection
Keepers: Darlow (Leeds United), Adam Davies (Sheffield United), King (the Toffees).
Defenders: Ben Cabango (Swansea), Jay Dasilva (Coventry City), B. Davies (Spurs), Kpakio (Cardiff City), Dylan Lawlor (Cardiff), Chris Mepham (West Bromwich Albion), Rodon (Leeds), Williams (Forest).
Midfielders: Ampadu (Leeds United), Brooks (Bournemouth), Jordan James (Leicester - on loan from Stade Rennais), Josh Sheehan (Bolton), Sorba Thomas (Stoke City), Harry Wilson (Fulham), J. Colwill (Cardiff), Rubin Colwill (Cardiff).
Forwards: Broadhead (the Red Dragons), Cullen (Swansea), Harris (Oxford), Lewis Koumas (Birmingham - loaned by the Reds), Johnson (Tottenham Hotspur), Moore (Wrexham), Isaak Davies (Cardiff City).
