Three Lions Squad Depth Called 'Absurd' - Wales Boss Bellamy
- Published
Friendly match: Wales vs England
Venue: London's Wembley, the capital Date: October 9th Kick-off: 19:45 BST
The Wales head coach says England's squad depth is remarkable that a boxing promoter wouldn't pair them against his Wales side.
Bellamy's men face their neighbors in a friendly at the national stadium on Thursday before their crucial qualifying match against Belgium next Monday.
National team coach Tuchel has omitted the likes of Jude Bellingham, Foden and Grealish out of his selection for the match against Wales and their World Cup qualifier against Latvia.
"The English have a ridiculous squad, like the French," the coach remarked.
"England have a transfer market value of 1.4 billion pounds, Wales' is £170m. If you were a boxing promoter, you would not match us up. It wouldn't be allowed."
He says making sure Wales can face the star-studded opponents is a "key motivation".
Bellamy added: "Our team don't go off market prices, but the reality is they don't just have one team. They have multiple and France and others have the same level. They have many top talents and that's the honest truth."
"One right-back was ruled out with injury the recently and there are 24 more to choose from! They have 60-odd footballers. I wish Wales to be well-equipped like them."
These two nations last faced each other at the 2022 tournament in the Middle East, when the English ran out easy victors in a fixture before Gareth Southgate's side made it to the quarter-finals.
The new manager is Thomas Tuchel, a European and world club winner at the London club who has won domestic titles in Ligue 1 and his native Germany.
The Welsh boss was previously an coach at the Belgian side and the English club to Kompany, who succeeded Tuchel at Bayern Munich.
"Tuchel's an outstanding coach - his record is proven," he added.
"I have some sort of insight because the team he departed I know individuals who have gone in there. 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 - observe how we adjust because he adapts too. I can learn from that. I'd love to reach that level."
Welsh Squad List
Goalkeepers: Darlow (Leeds), Adam Davies (Sheffield United), Tom King (Everton).
Backline: Ben Cabango (Swansea City), Jay Dasilva (Coventry City), B. Davies (Tottenham Hotspur), Kpakio (Cardiff), Dylan Lawlor (Cardiff), Chris Mepham (West Bromwich Albion), Joe Rodon (Leeds United), Neco Williams (Forest).
Midfielders: Ampadu (Leeds United), Brooks (Bournemouth), J. James (Leicester - loaned by Stade Rennais), Josh Sheehan (Bolton), Thomas (Stoke City), H. Wilson (Fulham), Joel Colwill (Cardiff), R. Colwill (Cardiff City).
Attackers: Broadhead (Wrexham), Cullen (Swansea City), Mark Harris (Oxford United), Koumas (Birmingham City - on loan from Liverpool), Brennan Johnson (Tottenham Hotspur), Kieffer Moore (Wrexham), Isaak Davies (Cardiff City).