Three Lions Squad Depth Called 'Absurd' - Welsh Manager Craig Bellamy
- Published
International friendly: Wales vs England
Venue: London's Wembley, the capital Date: Thursday, 9 October Kick-off: 7:45 PM BST
Craig Bellamy states the English squad depth is remarkable that matchmakers wouldn't pair them with the Welsh team.
The Welsh squad face England in a non-competitive match at Wembley on Thursday before their crucial qualifying match against the Belgians next the following week.
National team coach Thomas Tuchel has left the such as Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Grealish from his squad for the match against Wales and their qualifying game against Latvia.
"The English have a incredible team, similar to France," the coach said.
"England have a market valuation of £1.4bn, ours is 170 million. If you were a boxing promoter, you would not put us together. It wouldn't be allowed."
He explains making sure the Welsh team can face the star-studded rivals is a "key motivation".
Bellamy continued: "We do not rely on values, but the simple fact is England don't just have a single lineup. They possess multiple and France and others are similarly stacked. England have many great players and that's the honest truth."
"One right-back went out injured the other day and there are 24 more to choose from! They've got over sixty footballers. I'd love us to be stacked similarly."
The neighbouring countries last faced each other at the 2022 tournament in Qatar, when England emerged as easy 3-0 winners in a fixture before Gareth Southgate's side reached the quarter-finals.
The new manager is Thomas Tuchel, a Champions League and Fifa Club World Cup champion at Chelsea who has won league championships in France and his home country.
The Welsh boss was formerly an coach at the Belgian side and the English club to Kompany, who succeeded him at Bayern Munich.
"Tuchel's an incredible manager - his achievements speak for themselves," he added.
"I possess some sort of insight because the team he departed I am familiar with individuals who have gone in there. I get a glimpse there of his methods and it's very impressive. "
"His strategic planning is top level and I aimed to be facing such a challenge - see how you're going to adapt because he adapts too. I will get to learn from that. I aspire to reach that level."
Wales Team List
Goalkeepers: Karl Darlow (Leeds), Davies (Sheffield United), Tom King (the Toffees).
Defenders: Ben Cabango (Swansea City), Jay Dasilva (Coventry City), B. Davies (Tottenham Hotspur), Kpakio (Cardiff City), Dylan Lawlor (Cardiff City), Mepham (West Brom), Joe Rodon (Leeds United), Neco Williams (Forest).
Midfield: Ethan Ampadu (Leeds), David Brooks (the Cherries), Jordan James (Leicester City - loaned by Rennes), Josh Sheehan (Bolton), Thomas (Stoke City), H. Wilson (the Cottagers), Joel Colwill (Cardiff), R. Colwill (Cardiff).
Forwards: Nathan Broadhead (the Red Dragons), Liam Cullen (Swansea), Mark Harris (Oxford), Koumas (Birmingham - on loan from Liverpool), Johnson (Tottenham Hotspur), Kieffer Moore (Wrexham), I. Davies (Cardiff).
